Scientists at KAIST University and the Korean chemical company LG Chem, say they've found out how to mass produce plastics from the common E. coli bacteria.

They say a genetically engineered version of E. coli can be fermented to produce polylactic acid or PLA, which is used to produce a variety of plastic products.

PLA is a biodegradable plastic made from renewable resources like cornstarch and sugarcane. But that's an expensive process.

E. coli fermentation produces PLA far more efficiently and cheaply.

[Sang-yup Lee, Professor Leading Research Team]:
"Before, we had to go through a two-step fermentation and complicated chemical process of polymerization. This time, we metabolically engineered E. coli and fed it with biomass. Then PLA could be accumulated right away in the E. Coli cells, ending up with a one-step process."

Lee says the new strain of E. coli can produce bio-plastic, which can be broken down by microorganisms.

[Sang-yup Lee, Professor Leading Research Team]:
"We can now produce it from renewable resources in an eco-friendly way while eradicating various factors that cause global pollution."

E. coli is a naturally occurring bacteria mostly found in warm blooded animals. The bacteria's genetic structure is relatively simple, and easily manipulated.