UNC Researcher Seeks to Reduce Plastic Waste Through Molecular Changes

Posted Sep 21, 2023
Frank Leibfarth, a University of North Carolina chemistry professor, says one of his lab’s goals is to make the plastics economy more sustainable. His research studies the materials that make up plastics, specifically polyethylene and polypropylene. Those are byproducts of refining crude oil and can be found in everything from packaging to bottles to toys. (Chapelboro.com)

Related: Campus Connections

There’s no fool like The Motley Fool
It all started April 1, 1994, with an internet message board post. "Joey Roman" bragged that a particular stock was "hotter than an egg on...
Wed Sep 9, 2026

The JB Cissell Memorial Fund
On September 7, 2019, Inside Carolina lost a treasured, founding member of its family in J.B. Cissell. You can read more about him and what...
Mon Sep 7, 2026

'Puppy Love': Dolly Parton's first recorded song, made at age 13, draws mourners to UNC
Flags across the state are flying at half-staff as fans mourn country music icon Dolly Parton. At UNC, her very first recorded song, cut when...
Sun Sep 6, 2026

Meet UNC’s Sarah Ferguson: A musician, model and the first paraplegic Marching Tar Heel
On early mornings, you might find University of North Carolina student Sarah Ferguson doing laps around campus, camera in hand, taking advantage of the quiet...
Sat Sep 5, 2026