Malaysia ranked 28th among the world’s top 30 plastic-polluting countries in 2021, with each person generating an average of 56 kilograms of plastic waste per year. Plastic pollution isn’t just a global issue—it’s a local one, too, and it’s getting harder to ignore.
Dr. Wong Kok Kee and Dr. Ong Ghim Hock from INTI’s Faculty of Health and Life Sciences noted, “Landfilling is one of the most common ways of dealing with plastic, but leachate may cause increased probability of cancer and neurological impairment in humans.”
One of the most problematic types of plastic is polypropylene or PP. It’s used in everything from food packaging to medical devices and disposable products. Because it’s tough and slow to break down, PP makes up a large portion of the plastic that ends up in landfills. Unfortunately, landfilling isn’t just unsustainable—it also carries serious health risks. Chemicals that leak from plastic waste can increase the likelihood of cancer and neurological damage.
To address this, researchers at INTI International University are exploring an unexpected but promising solution: fungi. Dr. Wong Kok Kee and Dr. Ong Ghim Hock from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences are studying how fungal enzymes might help break down PP more safely and sustainably.
Fungi have been studied before in relation to plastic degradation, but what sets INTI’s research apart is the focus on enzymes produced by fungi—specifically those that can break down PP. “Although some studies have reported the involvement of fungi in polypropylene biodegradation, no studies have yet investigated the use of fungal enzymes in PP biodegradation,” said Dr. Wong and Dr. Ong.
In their research, the team collected soil samples from the Jeram landfill in Malaysia and identified 14 fungal species. Of these, nine were able to grow using PP as their only carbon source. This suggests they may be capable of breaking down the plastic—a significant step forward.
Fungi produce enzymes such as manganese peroxidase and laccase, which are known for breaking down complex substances like wood. These same enzymes could potentially help degrade PP, offering a more natural and less harmful method of managing plastic waste.
While the early results are encouraging, the researchers say further study is needed. “Because no information on both fungi species in remediation has been previously reported, a more extensive study to better understand the mechanism of PP remediation could be conducted,” they added.
This research supports the growing field of mycoremediation, where fungi are used to clean up environmental waste. It’s an area with real potential, especially in countries like Malaysia, where plastic pollution remains a serious concern. INTI’s work is a step forward in combining science and sustainability to address one of today’s most urgent environmental challenges
From packaging to medical devices, polypropylene (PP) is everywhere—but its durable structure makes it highly resistant to natural decomposition.