A revolutionary change has been created through the use of an unconventional material. UK student Lucy Hughes found a way to completely reshape how we view waste by her invention of MarinaTex. Also referred to as Fish scale plastic, this discovery is the latest addition to eco-friendly material. And this truly is the epitome of eco-friendly.
But before unpacking the weight of this discovery, we need to first understand what plastic does to the ocean. Plastic pollutes the coastline of every single continent which I’m sure has become an unfamiliar sight to most of us. Naturally occurring winds and storms carry discarded plastic into the sea. With how vast and deep the oceans are they unintentionally become a floating garbage pail. Now how does this affect more than its appearance? It affects the well being of marine life. Plastic has become a predator of the ocean. Mistaken for food, many animals die because the synthetic material makes them believe they are full while they have not actually consumed any nutrients. They actively starve themselves to death. And if not ingested then they are trapped. Smaller animals often get their necks trapped in six pack rings and suffocate. Plastic pollution is directly linked to the decline in marine life but thanks to this recent discovery we finally have a turning point.
MarinaTex is an actual safe and effective plastic alternative. It is a product made out of fish skin and scales. *Only those provided by fish processing plants. The fishing industry produces 50 million tons of waste each year(United Nations) that before only served as an add-on to landfills. But because of Lucy Hughes it holds a new purpose.
Instead of creating material entirely from scratch this invention truly uses waste already on the Earth. Nothing new is being produced that could potentially add on to the litter we are already faced with. Fish skin and scales are naturally strong and flexible. This creates a perfect base for a shopping bag and unlike traditional plastic there is no worry of pollution.
Typically plastic materials are thrown out immediately after use with 160,000 bags alone thrown away each second. They also stay on the Earth for a long time. It takes plastic bags 1,000 years to semi degrade with microplastics still left behind. Fish scale “plastic” on the other hand degrades within 4-6 weeks! Not only are they quickly fleeting like single use plastics should be, but they are also cheap to mass produce creating a low investment cost. Another beneficial aspect is the amount of material that can be created from a small portion. “One single Atlantic cod fish produces enough waste for 1,400 MarinaTex bags.” The waste from a lone cod fish we only require a small amount of water while producing a big harvest.
Finally a feature that cannot be overlooked is its edible composition. As discussed earlier a fish will eat plastic polluting the ocean and suffer the harmful effects. However, if MarinaTex does make it to the ocean animals can safely eat it. It is not only a material for our own use but it is also a food source.This invention tackles pollution, waste, and wildlife survival all in one and is sure to be the next big thing of sustainability.
For Updates Please Subscribe: https://www.marinatex.co.uk/
