Plastic waste is projected to triple by 2060, yet less than 10 percent is ever recycled, according to the OECD’s Global Plastics Outlook. In response, the Align Foundation has launched the 2025 Protein Engineering Tournament, a global open-science competition that combines artificial intelligence with real-world lab testing to advance enzymes capable of breaking down plastic waste. This initiative marks one of the first major challenges to integrate AI-driven enzyme design with large-scale experimental validation. The tournament invites scientists, bioengineers, and AI researchers from around the world to design novel enzymes that can efficiently degrade common plastics such as PET and polyethylene. Participants use AI tools to predict enzyme structures and functions, then submit their designs for synthesis and testing in Align Foundation’s network of laboratories. The winning designs will be evaluated not only for their computational predictions but also for actual performance in breaking down plastic under realistic environmental conditions. This dual-phase approach ensures that theoretical advancements are grounded in tangible, scalable outcomes. The initiative underscores a growing trend in scientific innovation: leveraging AI to accelerate discovery while maintaining rigorous empirical validation. By bridging the gap between computational modeling and laboratory experimentation, the tournament aims to fast-track viable solutions to one of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges. Early responses have been strong, with teams from academia, startups, and research institutions across North America, Europe, and Asia already participating. The Align Foundation emphasizes that all results and data from the competition will be shared openly to foster collaboration and accelerate progress across the global scientific community. With plastic pollution threatening ecosystems and human health, the 2025 Protein Engineering Tournament represents a bold step toward harnessing cutting-edge technology for environmental good.