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

UNC alum, former Tar Heels soccer player Jenny Chiu hosts FIFA World Cup TV series
Jenny Chiu ’17 always aimed to become a soccer star. And she has — just not in the way she imagined. As 48 countries compete...
Sat Jun 27, 2026

UNC Connections to the Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes
Mike Sundheim has been with the Carolina Hurricanes in some capacity for 28 years. Sundheim graduated from UNC in 2000, meaning he started with the...
Thu Jun 25, 2026

Take a closer look at South Building’s new copper roof
The weathervane at the top of South Building hasn’t been the highest point on campus in nearly a century, but for now, anyway, it is...
Wed Jun 24, 2026

UNC ranked No. 55 among universities across the world
The University of North Carolina is the 55th best school in the world, according to U.S. News. Carolina’s best subject areas, according to the rankings,...
Tue Jun 23, 2026