When we talk about plastic rubbish polluting the earth, we don't often talk about the environmental impacts caused by fast-food packaging. Actually, this packaging is often coated with environmentally damaging chemicals. Recently researchers from Flinders University andGerman biomaterials developer, one·five, have started using seaweed(海草) to solve the packaging waste problem of the fast-food industry.
Using seaweed to create sustainable alternatives to existing products isn't a new concept.The idea of turning seaweed into a material to replace bubble wrap(气泡膜包装) was put forward more than seven years ago. This time, the Flinders University materials researchers and one · five are using seaweed extracts(提取物) to develop next-generation coating materials.
In fact, these new non-pollutive biomaterials are designed to replace the traditional fossil-based plastic coatings that are used in most oil-proof fast-food packaging. The new coating not only meets the required functionality standards of traditional oil-proof packaging materials but also works to create an environmentally sustainable solution. It is as recyclable as paper,explains Dr Zhongfa n Jia, a lead researcher from the Flinders Institute.
"The seaweed extracts have a similar structure to the natural fibres from which paper is made,"says Dr Jia.
"Our novel treatments boost the oil-proof feature of the seaweed through simple adaptation while neither affecting the biodegradability(生物降解力) nor recyclability of the coated paper."
"The product could be great news for the environment. We are able to reduce harmful plastic pollution with it,"says Claire Gusko, co-founder of one·five.
Now Flinders University and one·five are trying mass production from the laboratory to the factory.
Although achievements like this are definitely worth celebrating, we can't just stop at seaweed packaging. We need to use seaweed and other sustainable tools to effectively help reduce our environmental impacts and make real changes.
