Pollution from plastic bags and packaging is causing huge problems around the world. Originally, people started using plastic because it is strong and lasts a long time. Now, because of those qualities, plastics are polluting our oceans and killing sea life. This has left us searching for a replacement.
Lucy Hughes, a product design student in the United Kingdom, has come up with one: a material made from fish skin and algae. Hughes has named the material Marinatex. Made from sea waste, the clear material is environmentally responsible. Unlike plastic, it is easily disposed of and will fully biodegrade in less than a month.
On average, most plastic products are only used for 12 minutes before being thrown away. But plastic can take up to 1,000 years to break down. That’s why Hughes says it makes no sense to use plastic. She hopes Marinatex can replace plastics used in packaging and food boxes and help solve the growing problem of plastic pollution worldwide.