According to research being carried out by a team of scientists based at Newcastle University, carbon dioxide could, in the future, be used to produce biodegradable plastic bags, paint stripper, solvents, and even batteries! According to an online magazine, Business Green, the research team have “developed a catalyst that greatly increases the energy efficiency of converting waste carbon dioxide into chemical compounds known as cyclic carbonates, which are widely used in the manufacture of chemical products, solvents and biodegradable packaging.”