Promising solution to plastic pollution: bioplastic made from shrimp shells Essay Example

alternative to traditional plastics for multiple industrial purposes thanks to our adaptable manufacturing technique.

With potential applications in creating trash bags, packaging and diapers, Shrilk is an eco-friendly bioplastic that decomposes quickly and releases nutrients that promote plant growth. A study conducted by Wyss Institute revealed that enriching soil with chitosan bioplastic resulted in increased growth of a California black-eyed pea plant within three weeks.

Although conventional plastics are lightweight, durable, and inexpensive, they have a harmful impact on the environment. As a result, there is an urgent demand for alternatives. At Columbia University, researchers discovered that in America alone, over 34 million tons of plastic waste are produced each year with less than 7 percent being recycled. Moreover, it can take up to 1,000 years for plastics buried in landfills to decompose. Additionally, roughly 100 million tons of plastic waste has been dumped into oceans worldwide which poses a danger to sea creatures due to its circulation in vast oceanic gyres.

The Wyss Institute at Harvard is tackling the urgent problem of excessive plastic usage by creating a sustainable substitute. Their encouraging answer involves utilizing chitosan to produce bioplastic. To test their solution, the scientists cultivated a California black-eyed pea plant in soil enriched with their bioplastic and observed an impressive growth spurt within three weeks. For more details on this groundbreaking initiative, watch the video provided below.