17-Year-Old Invents Dissolvable RFID Tag to Streamline Plastic Sorting
High-school student Kevin Sun created a biodegradable radio-frequency tag that acts as a wireless barcode, helping recycling plants identify plastic types more accurately.
Kevin Sun, a teenager from Andover, Massachusetts, has devised a dissolvable RFID tag that functions like a wireless barcode for plastic products. Printed directly onto the material, the tag transmits its identity via radio-frequency signals, allowing recyclers to distinguish between different polymer types even when colors or labels obscure visual cues. Constructed from MXene and protected by an alkaline-water-soluble coating, the tag remains readable for up to six weeks before disappearing during the standard hot-washing process used in recycling facilities.
Sun’s work was recognized with the Craig R. Barrett Award for Innovation and a $10,000 prize at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. While further development is required before commercial adoption, the technology demonstrates a novel blend of materials science and wireless engineering aimed at reducing contamination and boosting recycling accuracy.
Why it matters
A biodegradable RFID tag could make plastic recycling more precise, reducing waste and improving material recovery.
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