A New Type Of Bioplastic Does Not Require Soil Or Freshwater To Make

Making bioplastic has long been a race for researchers around the world. Lately, Tel Aviv University has published a paper on how to create this material without making use of water or land. This method harnesses microorganisms that take seaweed as the main food source.

This type of polymer is biodegradable, can be reduced to organic waste, and emits no toxic waste in the making.

A True Alternative to Plastic Is Hard To Achieve

Plastic is filling up in our oceans

This is not the first bioplastic to be produced though.

According to Dr. Alexander Golberg from TAU's Porter School, plastics are building up in the oceans, threatening the environment and animals. The process of making plastics also produces tons of chemical contaminants.

Bioplastic that is not made from petroleum can only solve parts of the problem. The bacteria and plants required to make these plastics consume freshwater and soil, which many countries, including Israel, do not have to spare.

This is where this new bioplastic proves its unique selling point. It is from marine microorganisms and can be turned into organic waste.

This New Bioplastic Requires Less Resource

The microorganisms in question take seaweed as the main source of food and then produce PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), a type of polymer. The seaweed that the creatures feed on can be bred in nature.

Dr. Golberg suggested that countries like India, China, and Israel should replace petroleum-sourced plastics to this new method, which can eliminate fossil fuel entirely from the manufacturing process without taking a lot of fresh water or space.

Plastic Is Filling Up Our Oceans

Plastic in the ocean can be fractured into smaller bits

Researchers have found out that plastics have made it to many remote parts of the oceans. Chinese Academy of Science revealed that the Marina Trench has become one of the most massive microplastic sinks. Additionally, according to their research, the plastic level increases corresponding to the deeper sea level, peaking at 13.51 pieces per liter.

Tackling ocean plastic pollution is extremely challenging as they usually fracture into microplastic that bare eyes cannot detect. An even worse piece of news is that the deeper researchers look, the higher level of plastics is found.