‘Plastic’ material can be recycled

A plastic-like material which can be recycled “infinitely” has been discovered by scientists.

The polymer is lightweight, heat resistant and strong but can also be repeatedly converted back to its original state, according to US research published in journal Science.

The discovery could mark a step forward in the search for more sustainable materials to compete with plastic.

Polymers are a class of materials made up of long chains of chemically bonded molecules, and plastics are an example of synthetic polymers.