Fungi found on coconut husks can decompose plastic, sunscreen

Fungi found on coconut husks can decompose plastic, sunscreen | University of Hawaiʻi System News

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May 11, 2026

UH News

Reading time: 2 minutesWang holds an award plaque at the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Science and Engineering Fair. For her research on fungi that can degrade plastic and sunscreen, Vera Wang, a senior at Kaiser High School, won in multiple categories at the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Science & Engineering Fair for her research conducted in Anthony Amend’s lab at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Wang’s project earned 1st place Best in Category (Microbiology), 3rd place Best in Fair, a special award from the Friends of Hanauma Bay, a special award from Association for Women Geoscientist, and a scholarship award from the McInerny Foundation. She also qualified for the International Science & Engineering Fair, which will take place in May in Phoenix, Arizona.

Wang works in Anthony Amend’s lab in the Pacific Biosciences Research Center. “I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to pursue my project in the Amend Lab,” said Wang, who worked closely with Kaylee Christensen, a graduate student in the Marine Biology Graduate Program. “My research would have never, ever, been possible without Anthony and Kaylee. This project has been part of a much longer journey, so having it recognized feels both surreal and deeply rewarding.”

“This work was made possible because of Vera’s vision, and it gives me such optimism about the future of science in Hawaiʻi,” said Amend, who is based in the Pacific Biosciences Research Center at School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST). “Her success is a testament to our public school system which is doing a wonderful job supporting and training our next generation of students. I can’t wait to see what discoveries she makes in college!”

Coconuts, fungus vs. plastic, sunscreen

During her sophomore year, Wang designed and built an ocean filter that removed sunscreen and microplastics from the surface water that was inspired by traditional Polynesian weaving while incorporating modern environmental science. It was not only scientifically effective, but—made entirely from coconut byproducts—also environmentally responsible across its full life cycle. But Wang realized that removing the pollutants from water is only part of the problem. The next challenge she considered was how to dispose of them responsibly.

“I learned that the pore structure of coconut fiber supports the movement of air and water, which can create a favorable environment for microbes,” Wang said. “That led me to wonder whether coconut husk could do more than physically capture pollutants. So this year, my research at the Amend Lab began exploring the fungal communities living in coconut husks and studying their growth and degradation abilities on sunscreen and plastic media.”

They discovered that fungi found naturally on coconut husks can biodegrade (decompose) sunscreen and plastic and that a tannin compound can be used to identify sunscreen- and plastic-degrading fungi. Christensen shared that the tannins present in the fibers might be encouraging growth of these complex degraders. Additionally, their genetic testing showed that some of the fungal species did not have a match to anything in the world’s largest reference database of known genes and genomes, indicating that these may be previously uncharacterized species.

For more information, see SOEST’s website.

Related Posts: Hungry marine fungi may be the key to reducing… Hanauma Bay Education Program: A celebration of 35… When crowds left, reefs came alive at Hanauma Bay

Manoa researchPacific Biosciences Research CenterSchool of Ocean and Earth Science and TechnologyUH Manoa

Fungi found on coconut husks can decompose plastic, sunscreen

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