The plastic produced in the plant factories is not only biodegradable, it is also suitable for widespread commercial use. It is being produced experimentally in special varieties of GM oilseed rape and cress.

Conventional plastics are made from oil and do not degrade easily.

But the University of Lausanne's Yves Poirer, commenting on the research published in Nature Biotechnology, said: "There is a growing awareness that petroleum is a finite resource and that the indestructibility of plastics can be more of a nuisance than a benefit [an error occurred while processing this directive]

Pig agreed to become surrogate mother

More people than ever die in flu epidemic

Watch Dog condemns DIY GM plants

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

A tale of two cities

More news stories about horrible things more more

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

A tale of two cities