In an effort to decrease the environmental cost of single-use plastics, scientists, engineers, and designers are increasingly turning to nature to look for sustainable alternatives. Such ecologically friendly alternatives include liquid wood, algae insulation, and polymer substitutes made from fermented plant starch like in corn or potatoes. These green substitutes to plastic do more than stem the growing tide of plastics: they also address issues such as safely housing a growing population, offsetting carbon emissions, and returning nutrients to the earth.
Researchers are increasingly using nature to turn the tide on plastic
More of Today's Solutions
Formerly “extinct” woodpecker still alive and pecking in Louisian...
Last year, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FSW) declared the ivory-billed woodpecker extinct. That, however, proved to be a premature move. That’s according ...
Read MoreRecovering from work stress: science-based strategies for a balanced life
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM It goes without saying: the modern workforce is exhausted. With only 32 percent of employees worldwide thriving and 43 ...
Read MoreScience backs up how small acts of kindness can create global change
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a society fraught with political divisions, global crises, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, it's easy to believe that ...
Read MoreA jelly with a scent of hope: how a nanoparticle gel could help save coral reefs
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When the ocean gets too warm, coral reefs bleach, weaken, and sometimes die. And right now, they’re in ...
Read More
