Meet Arya Satheesh, 18, who invented plant-based plastic to fight microplastics

Plastic pollution presents a difficult problem: even when discarded plastic breaks into smaller pieces, it does not necessarily disappear. These tiny fragments, known as microplastics, can persist in the environment and find their way into soil, water and living organisms. While recycling and reducing plastic consumption remain important, what if the material used in everyday products could also help break down some of the plastic pollution already around us?That is the question 18-year-old Arya Satheesh has been exploring. A high school student from Letterkenny in County Donegal, Ireland, she has developed Eco Purge, a plant-based, biodegradable plastic designed to release specialised enzymes as it decomposes. These enzymes are intended to help break down existing microplastics in the surrounding environment.Her invention won the European regional category of The Earth Prize 2026, an international environmental competition for school students.