The amount of microplastic accidentally put into the body of each person is about 5g per week

With the amount microplastics Thus, in a month, the amount of microplastics that our body takes in is equivalent to a 4 x 2 piece of Lego. After 10 years, we may have swallowed or inhaled 2.5 kg of plastic, equivalent to 2 relatively large plastic pipes. And during our lifetime, each of us on average consumes about 20kg of microplastics. Therefore, it is not enough to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic, scientists are trying to find alternatives from natural materials.

40% of the plastic produced in the world is used to make product packaging. In 2018, just over 13% of this plastic packaging was recycled. A biological packaging product was born, which can replace plastic. Small bags of food or drinks made from seaweed. These packages are biodegradable in the environment within 4 to 6 weeks.

The Notpla company also develops another seaweed-based product, which is take-away food containers, along with drinking cups, spoons and forks. All can biodegrade within a month.

Microplastics are already present in human blood. (Photo: Greenpeace Foundation)

Mr. Pierre Paslier – Co-founder of Notpla said: “Seaweed has always been a good choice for us, because they grow very quickly, some of the seaweeds we use can grow by 1m per day. Regarding the decomposition process, seaweed has existed for millions of years and the natural environment has no problem with the decomposition of seaweed.”

Another natural material that can also be a very good alternative to plastic is mycelium (mycelium). This is the root structure of the fungus. When grown in straw or sawdust, these elongated mycelium fill the empty space and become a substitute for polystyrene. This natural material is more durable than polystyrene and is also biodegradable. But the minus point of this material is the cost and this material requires a large space to manufacture.

More research is still needed to reduce production costs, before natural materials can be widely used and replaced plastic, thereby reducing plastic waste and helping to protect the environment.

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