Traditional plastics have always been associated with crude oil, although today they’re typically made from natural gas. Unfortunately, plastics based on hydrocarbons like these take up to a thousand years to decompose naturally and their universal use has quickly led to catastrophic problems with plastics pollution, including phenomena like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and its smaller Atlantic cousin. Today, ever-worsening problems like these, as well as an increasing desire to reduce dependency on non-renewable fossil fuels, have powered a drive to develop new sustainable materials and practices to replace traditional plastics.
Green plastics, also known as bioplastics, are biodegradable materials made from algae and other plants They’re developed to be sustainable in resources, production processes and in disposal. Water bottles, packaging, shopping bags, plastic films and other disposable products are popular uses for green plastics, which are made to break down when exposed to UV light, enzymes, bacteria, water, or even wind.
There are plenty of other advantages to the use of plant-based plastics, depending on the application. Many crops, for example, are covered in thin polypropylene mulch. This typically must be collected and recycled every season. If a bioplastic mulch is used instead, it can simply dissolve, improving the carbon content of the soil as well as saving significant time for the farmer. Simplifying waste streams in businesses where bioplastics are widely used, such as in restaurants, can also save both time and money.
Medicine & Antibiotics:
Algae has great value in the field of medicine, both for its bioactive properties and as a material used to produce medical products. There are far too many uses to enumerate, but here are a few examples.
- Alaria, also known as badderlocks or winged kelp, for example, was once used for strengthening the stomach and restoring the appetite after illness. Alginates from brown seaweed are used to prevent and stop bleeding while treating injuries.
- Some types of algae are used to produce anti-parasitic drugs, while others produce gel-like agar, used to prevent constipation.
- Chlorella, a single celled microalgae provides an antibacterial product called chlorellin, which is particularly effective against coliforms, a family of intestinal bacteria.
- Other species of algae provide antibiotics that are effective against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Since gram negative bacteria are naturally more resistant to both antibiotics and strong cleansers, products derived from these algae are important in preventing the spread of difficult infections.
- Another example is a seaweed-based gel that can be injected into tissue to coat the heart muscle and help it heal after a heart attack.
- Scientists are evaluating other strains of algae that can be useful in managing blood pressure, chronic inflammation and blood cholesterol levels.
Carbon Reduction
CO2 emissions are a topic of great concern worldwide, as scientists and politicians struggle to reverse the impact of greenhouse gases on our global climate. Algae have recently gained attention as a potential super soldier in the fight to reduce greenhouse gases, largely because of the way they handle CO2. While trees and algae sequester carbon dioxide naturally, they do it differently. Trees consume it as they photosynthesize by absorbing carbon into their trunks and roots, releasing oxygen into the air. Algae follow much the same process, but instead of simply storing the carbon, they absorb carbon in the form of even more algae, which in turn absorb even more carbon. The rapid growth rate of algae combined with their ability to thrive in almost any location make them a powerful tool.
