Researchers have discovered ways to use seaweed to make a renewable alternative to
everyday disposable plastics. With the plant being plentiful and fast growing, this
potential replacement for plastic shows plenty of potential.
When it comes to products, fungi have a surprising variety of uses on the market. These
unassuming mushrooms can be used to make environmentally friendly alternatives of
foams, leather, and even foods.
Out of all of the technologies to be created this one is definitely an odd one. Researchers
have discovered that hair is surprisingly good at absorbing oils, and not just the oils
produced by your body. Researchers have created a mat made of hair with the sole
purpose of cleaning up oil spills in the ocean, halting any everlasting damage that can be
done to the ecosystem.
Seaweed
It is known that many animals in the ocean often mistaken plastic bags and bottles for their food source. This
can often lead to animals choking on the junk that floats around in the ocean. This is made worse when the
plastics erode into smaller fragments and are eaten by plankton which in turn are eaten by larger animals.
Eventually the micro plastics end up traveling down the food chain and eventually into us. With plastics made
of seaweed, this will curve many of the problems addressed.
Fungi
It is not often known by many that most of the greenhouse gasses produced is made by livestock. Some
researchers have suggested that we eat insects, but not many are willing to make a drastic change in their diet.
Furthermore, a lot of foams used un furniture and clothing end up being a part of the build up of waste in the world.
Fungi can help act a an eco friendly option for meats as many have an umami flavor to them. Mushrooms
also have a spongy form to their mycelium that can replace foams, or can be used to turn into a replacement for
leather.
