Plastic wrap produced from seaweed withstands warmth and is compostable

Chemistry

A skinny materials produced from seaweed can deal with excessive temperatures however solely takes a number of weeks to interrupt down in a composting bin

By Karmela Padavic-Callaghan

Common sargasso weed — The species of seaweed used to make the movie

Alamy/Nature Image Library

A cling movie produced from an invasive seaweed can face up to excessive temperatures but remains to be simply compostable. The fabric might ultimately turn out to be a sustainable alternative for meals packaging.

Massive portions of skinny plastic movies, like these for wrapping produce or baked items, are used yearly. Most find yourself as rubbish, both as a result of they require specialised recycling amenities or can’t be recycled in any respect. Some biodegradable plastics do exist, however they will take months and even years to decompose. Keeran Ward …

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