Algae Could Become the Plastic of the Future. Here's What That Means

The world has a plastic problem that has only grown terribly over the years: Resources state that we produce more than 380 million tons of plastic every year, with over 8 million tons of plastic waste escaping into our oceans. While plastic is a staple for manufacturing that revolutionized industries when it was first invented, it can be notoriously hard to recycle, which is why, around 91 percent of plastics aren't recycled. So, scientists are looking into other materials that can substitute plastics and produce less waste while doing that.

One surprising candidate is algae. Did you know that it actually produces a variety of base materials that can be used for bio-plastics production? This blooming alternative is used by some laboratories around the world as a potential replacement for single-use plastic, and in some cases, it may even be signaling the future of eco-conscious clothing. In this video by the YouTube channel Undecided with Matt Ferrell, you can deep dive into the world of algae where you can learn just how you might be wearing plastic-free flip-flops in the future. Algae-powered innovations are already happening around the world, and they might have the key to a more sustainable future. If you're interested in learning more about it, make sure you watch the video embedded above, and as always, enjoy!