"Vegan spider silk" can replace common plastic

[Lou]

When I was in middle school I thought that science could solve all our problems and save the world.
somewhere between than and now I lost that confidence.

But now... maybe....

Scientists have created a substance in the lab that could replace plastic. Its made from plants. And its bio-degradable. you could even compost it your garden.

'Vegan spider silk' provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

Researchers have created a plant-based, sustainable, scalable material that could replace single-use plastics in many consumer products.

phys.org

 

[Second Summer]

This sounds promising, especially as it can be composted at home - fingers crossed it will be a success, and soon!

"Vegan spider silk" offers a plant-based replacement for common plastic

By mimicking the self-assembling microstructures that give spider silk its incredible strength, scientists at the University of Cambridge have produced a plant-based film with the strength of common single-use plastics, offering a "vegan" eco-friendly alternative to the material. The free-standing…

newatlas.com

 

[No Longer Active]

That is really good news!

 

[Second Summer]

I suppose the big question is whether the raw material production and the process can be optimised and scaled so that the end product is affordable and competitive on price.

 

[Lou]

I suppose the big question is whether the raw material production and the process can be optimised and scaled so that the end product is affordable and competitive on price.

My article says, "The energy-efficient method, which uses sustainable ingredients, results in a plastic-like free-standing film, which can be made at industrial scale."

also: no toxic elements are required for the Cambridge-developed technique.