This startup has a great idea: use seaweed instead of plastic.

A London startup has created an alternative to plastic that could reduce the staggering 300 million tonnes of single-use plastic that humans generate each year.

It is a material very similar to plastic that is formed from seaweed, which abounds in the seas and does not need special care. They grow so fast, 1 meter a day, that they don’t need fertilizer or anything else.

The secret formula. The startup Notpla uses seaweed, which it then dries and grinds into a powder. Then, using a secret recipe, the powder is turned into a sticky liquid mixture that is left to dry. The end result: a substance very similar to plastic.

Six weeks to biodegrade. This casing is biodegradable, taking four to six weeks compared to hundreds of years for synthetic plastics.

Laminated cartons also take hundreds of years to biodegrade, but only a few weeks with this alternative.

Synthetic plastics take hundreds of years to biodegrade.

The company became famous when they created edible water capsules that they gave out at the London Marathon five years ago.

The uses are many, from creating water capsules, ketchup sauce capsules and dressings, tequila shots, drinks and cardboard wrappers, among many others.

Without a doubt, this initiative would have a good impact if it were replaced instead of plastic. What do you think?

It has been said that seaweed is the superfood of the future. This Vice video will help you learn a little more.

[ Business Insider ]