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 researchers developing the world’s largest sky-survey telescope
UNC is embarking on a bold new era of astronomical discovery with the construction of the Argus Array, a revolutionary telescope system that will be...
Wed Jul 1, 2026

These Tar Heels are working the World Cup
As the world visits North America this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, some Tar Heels are helping make the historic event happen. The...
Tue Jun 30, 2026

America250 At Carolina
As the nation’s first public university, UNC-Chapel Hill has been guided for more than two centuries by a commitment to lead our state and our...
Sun Jun 28, 2026

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