One of the most pressing issues facing the world today is plastic waste. With over 8 million tons polluting the sea each year, it is wreaking havoc on our global ecosystem and has become a threat to most living creatures. This episode focuses on Japanese companies that are using science and technology to deal with this major problem. One business has developed a new type of biodegradable plastic which can be used in compost or fertilizer when it has reached the end of its life-cycle. Another company is working on the other end of the issue and has developed a new method for recycling the standard plastics that are already threatening our environment by breaking them down on a molecular level. Check out some of the new cutting-edge technology that might save the world.