We’re almost there! With just three more days in the Plastic Free Challenge, it’s not too late to go ahead and sign up if you haven’t already. Even if it’s for a little as 24 hours, I think you’ll be surprised how eye-opening it can be to try to avoid plastic. The best part is, the collective changes we are making together will help us all live more sustainably and add up to a big difference for our planet. I’m so proud of everyone who is beside me on this journey!
I plan to tell you about my own personal plastic-free successes (and challenges) a bit later, but as a fitting wrap-up to our outstanding efforts this month, I wanted to share about a promising new biodegradable bioplastic invented by award-winning London designer Lucy Hughes. It’s called MarinaTex and it looks similar to typical oil-based plastic wraps, but it’s stronger, safer and much more sustainable.
Created from fish scales and fins plus the cell walls of red algae, MarinaTex is Ms. Hughes’ promising solution to the problem of single-use plastic made from virgin resources. According to her company’s website, the transparent film is “well-suited for packaging and will biodegrade in a soil environment. The organic formula does not leach harmful chemicals and can be consumed, causing no harm to wildlife or humans.”
Despite taking the 23-year-old inventor more than a hundred tries to finally land on the right formula in her student apartment, she persevered. Here’s what she told The Guardian, “Plastic is an amazing material, and as a result we have become too reliant on it as designers and engineers. It makes no sense to me that we’re using plastic, an incredibly durable material, for products that have a life cycle of less than a day.” I couldn’t agree more.
Check out this video to learn more about Ms. Hughes and the potential for MarinaTex.
With almost half a million tonnes of fish waste produced annually in the UK alone, MarinaTex could efficiently help solve both the problem of too much fish waste in landfills as well as the over-consumption of single-use, virgin-sourced plastic.
Who knew just one Atlantic cod could provide enough material to create 1,400 single-use bags! What about you? Would you try bioplastic made from fish waste? I’d love to learn what you think about this type of technology. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.Resources:
It’s amazing that someone so young came up with such a great solution. Who would have thought fish scales and skin could be used in such a way.
I am so proud of her for trying until she got it right!! Who would have thought about using fish scales and algee. This is an awesome step toward becoming plastic free!
I love the idea behind her invention to create a biodegradable film and help the environment in this way. However, many people are deathly allergic to fish and this poses an enormous risk for consumers. That is the only reason I’m against it.
My vegan daughter will NOT!
YES! This material is amazing! Well done ma’am.
Brilliant – I LOVE hearing about these amazing young adults who are looking for solutions to the destruction of our planet!!
I would love to use an affordable alternative to the plastic wrap I use for wrapping food products that I sell from home.
Crazy the things you can come up with so simply that no one else has thought of
What a phenomenal innovator!!! I can’t wait to see this out in the world!
I agree what others have shared above – a young inventor who is forward thinking coming up with a solution about ONE way to use a waste product. No, it’s not for everyone because it’s fish (allergies and Vegans) but you’ve got to admit and give credit where it’s due! We don’t know who out there is coming up with the “next” solution to repurpose and create something new using waste.
WOW. That is truly amazing. I hope MarinaTex has great success.
What an amazing idea to reduce waste!!
Is there any info on whether this will be implemented to reduce single use non-recyclable plastic packaging?