No one would have thought that this great invention of the 20th century, namely plastic, would become a huge environmental problem in a few years. The situation brought about by this material is so serious that even a garbage island has appeared in the Pacific Ocean, which is caused by the abuse and use of plastic. In this world, there are also some people and groups who want to contribute to environmental protection. This time, I will introduce you to 11 biodegradable ecological materials that can replace plastics in the future.

1. Sugarcane

At present, many cosmetics companies use the Brazilian green plant sugarcane to make sugarcane bioplastics. For example, the sustainable packaging sugarcane hose launched by LISSON PACKAGING, 100% of which is made of sugarcane extract to make cosmetic hoses, is leading the way in environmental protection.

2. A mixture of wood fiber and spider web silk

In Finland, researchers imitated the advantages of nature and developed a durable, strong and biodegradable material as a solution to the use of plastics. This invention is a mixture of wood fiber and spider web silk, which has the advantage of not destroying nature like microplastics. In addition, the silk used is not taken from real spider webs, but is produced by researchers using synthetic DNA bacteria. Within the framework of the so-called "Korvaa" project, the world's first headphones of this material have already come out.

3. Straws made of avocado pits

In Nuevo Leon, Mexico, BIOFASE's products have unique biopolymer manufacturing technology. From agricultural industrial waste such as avocado seeds, hundreds of tons of straws can be produced, which have a lifespan of up to 240 days and can then be reintegrated on the earth.

4. Fungal material

In New York City, there is a company called Ecovative Design, which uses mycelium (the vegetative root structure of fungi) as a high-performance packaging method. Its cost is very competitive with traditional foam. The company's mission is to be able to replace plastics with new materials, thereby completely changing the way of consumption.

5. Bioplastics made from cacti

As a non-toxic and biodegradable product, there is a bioplastic made of cactus. Sandra Pasco, a researcher at a university in Mexico, discovered the benefits of using the product as a biopolymer. The degradation time of the material is only one month, and it can even be eaten. The purpose is that once the prickly pear cactus is used, other plants can continue to survive better and produce more fruits.

6. Biodegradable plastic made from tomato peel

Scientists at the Seville Institute of Materials Science and the University of Malaga have created a biodegradable plastic made from tomato skins. According to his research, its main ingredient is a kind of biopolyester, called "keratin", which exists in the skin of fruits. Cutin is a non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable product that exists in nature, for example as a protective layer for fruits and leaves. This makes it suitable for commercial environments and used for food packaging.

7. Biodegradable plastic made of corn starch

Ecoshell is a Mexican company that produces biodegradable plastics made from corn starch. In this way, packaging, bags and disposables can achieve 90 to 240 days of biodegradation, and will not leave toxic residues in the environment due to microorganisms in the environment, so that they can be integrated into nature.

8. Biopolymers made from squid protein

A study published in the well-known scientific journal "Frontiers in Chemistry" found that squid has a ring gear at the bottom of its antennae, which can be used to catch and suck prey. It produces a protein called "squitex", which has the ability to become fiber and can be used by commercial industries. Some of the products that can be obtained through this process are clothing or self-renewable recyclable materials. These biopolymers are not only sustainable, but they will not cause damage to squid populations when obtaining protein, because scientists have managed to make this biopolymer through a fermentation process that uses water, sugar, and oxygen.

9. Vegetable chemical plastic base made of potatoes

Jurgen Deneck, professor of plant cell biology and biotechnology at the University of Leeds, conducted a study to obtain the basis of plastic chemistry from plants such as potatoes. This process includes the fermentation of starch to obtain more alcohol and protein. In this regard, two kilograms of potatoes can get a bottle of ethanol. In addition, there is a material called cell wall plasma or membrane, a composite resin that looks like plastic after being compressed by heat and pressure. In addition, this is a completely renewable material. The professor worked with designers to use this resin to make useful items, such as glasses and other accessories.

10. Banana leaves, brown leaves

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, the "Rimping" supermarket has stopped using plastic bags and decided to wrap products with banana leaves and palm leaves. These are derived from nature and can be easily degraded. In countries like India, they are usually used as food plates, in Mexico, they are used as taco wrappers, which is a typical national dish.

11. Disposable silk and shrimp cups

Harvard University materials scientist Javier Fernandez made a material similar to translucent plastic, which he called "shrelk", which is a bioactive plastic inspired by the skin or skin of insects. In this process, silk protein and polysaccharides can be extracted from the hard noodles of shrimps. For example, these materials can replace meat packaging materials, these materials are designed to meet the needs of a few hours, and can be discarded within a few days. In fact, "shrelk" is stronger than ordinary plastic. If the product is thrown into the field, it can even be used as fertilizer.

Scientists from all over the world are now increasingly working to create alternatives to plastic packaging and help purify the environment. There is no doubt that if these discoveries are sold in large quantities, they will definitely make a huge contribution to the ecology of the earth.