Algae flip flops, plastic pollution problem

Algae flip flops, plastic pollution problem.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have created flip flops that are made from algae-based, polyurethane materials to help fight the worldwide plastic pollution problem.

The team, working at the California Center for Algae Biotechnology, used chemistry and biology processes to turn algae into renewable polymers that can be used to create an array of biodegradable products.

One of the first products to be created was a pair of flip flops, which the researchers hope will direct attention to the widespread plastic pollution in the world’s water supply.

As “the world’s most popular shoe,” plastic flip flops account for a significant portion of that pollution, Mike Burkart, a biochemistry professor at the university who helped develop the sandals, said.

“It has become obvious that the world has a major plastic problem polluting the planet, now more than ever,” Burkart said. “We need to change our habits and take on the personal responsibility to use less plastic in our lives, but plastic is very useful material all around us, so we need to get to the point where when someone’s buying a product, they insist it’s biodegradable.”

Flip flops that decompose in 18 weeks

The process of creating the eco-friendly flip flops starts with growing algae in ponds, then removing it from water to create a paste. Then, the researchers extract all the lipids, or fats, from the algae and run them through numerous chemical steps to break them down into smaller pieces used to make polymers. Lastly, the polymers are poured into a shoe mold.