Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Daithi O'Murchu Marine Research Station

Irish scientists aim to use seaweed to sustainably create bioplastics

Right now, the production of these materials requires food stuffs like corn, wheat, sugar beets, and sugar cane.

A GROUP OF Irish scientists are helping to pave the way for the future of bioplastics, using the relatively untapped resource of… seaweed.

Unlike normal plastics which can linger for many years and have various pretty nasty effects on the environment, bioplastics can be biodegradable and are not manufactured using fossil fuels.

However, there’s a hitch - right now, the production of this material uses PolyLatic Acid from food stuffs like corn, wheat, sugar beets, and sugar cane.

The European Union has a target for 2020 that 10% of all market plastics will be bioplastics, meaning that as the production of bioplastics grows, so will the space and resources required.

In the long run, this could take up valuable space and resources required for food farming.

However, the same acid can be obtained from seaweed, and in a way that will have minimal effects on the environment.

Researchers from the Daithi O’Murchu Marine Research Station in Cork and Cartron Point Shellfish in Clare are working with other organisations across Europe on a project known as SEABIOPLAS.

Fish farming

By using the waste products of aquaculture, such as fish farming, they are aiming to cultivate seaweed is a sustainable way for use as bioplastics.

“It also has several advantages over using the raw materials currently used in biomass-based plastics,” a statement explained, “including a reduction of CO2 emissions, higher productivity, no risk of potential deforestation, no freshwater consumption and no fertilisers or pesticides used.”

If the cultivation of seaweed was ramped up, there’s another added benefit for the livestock industry.

The production of the bioplastics will result in residues. Researchers believe that “these by-products have potential market value in the animal feed sector and can also be used as ingredients or supplements/additives”.

Read: We should be using more seaweed to power things, MEPs say >

More: Shops could STILL be codding customers with mislabelled fish >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
18 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Walshe
    Favourite Joe Walshe
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 4:38 PM

    Seaweed seems to have many uses and we as a nation are awash with it. Win, win situation

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Hayes
    Favourite Martin Hayes
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 4:43 PM

    Wonder how long it’ll take for some offshore company controlled by political buddies to get sole rights to harvesting seaweed.

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rkmr
    Favourite Rkmr
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 4:52 PM

    Its already happening.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Celticspirit321
    Favourite Celticspirit321
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 4:58 PM

    @Rkmr not sure why you got thumbs down but you’re correct.

    25
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rkmr
    Favourite Rkmr
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 5:02 PM
    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SEAN LYNCH
    Favourite SEAN LYNCH
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 4:32 PM

    “Irish Discovery”, (puffs chest out with pride)

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Celticspirit321
    Favourite Celticspirit321
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 5:04 PM

    Cure for cancer readily available but Pharmaceutical companies and governments don’t want you to know this. Cancer thrives in acidic environments. The cure is simple. Alkalise and energise. Juice greens such as wheat grass, kale and marajuana (yes marajuana!) everyday and eliminate the toxins that causes acidity.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Glen
    Favourite Glen
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 5:15 PM

    Cancer is big business and business is booming.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute methuselah of rock
    Favourite methuselah of rock
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 5:37 PM

    TOTAL and UTTER nonsense. Can you show us some credible research supporting this codswallop about alkalinity and cancer?

    23
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Glen
    Favourite Glen
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 5:47 PM

    Meth
    Would you be willing to let someone inject you with cancer cells to prove the case.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dublinjonny
    Favourite Dublinjonny
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 4:51 PM

    Always brings a sense of pride to see advancements in science and technology originating from Ireland, and perhaps even more so under the current economic climate when we do have somewhat of a ‘brain drain’ with a lot of our brightest having to emigrate. I really hope that those in Leinster house wake up to these very positive situation , stop looking for any photo opportunity when some foreign call center creates 10 jobs over the next 5 years and will of course close up shop eventually anyway . Its these young people that will lead this country into the future not foreign private business and old politicians , to sooner that’s realised the far better we will be

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek hAnlúain
    Favourite Derek hAnlúain
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 5:02 PM

    The IRISH sugar industry should get back into business with this news

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute methuselah of rock
    Favourite methuselah of rock
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 6:01 PM

    Glen, that is a daft scenario. What reason could any cancer researcher have for wanting to do that?!

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Glen
    Favourite Glen
    Report
    Aug 17th 2014, 6:13 PM

    You tell me !
    Your the genius who knows what treatments are best for cancer you are the expert.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Pearse Dolan
    Favourite Michael Pearse Dolan
    Report
    Aug 18th 2014, 8:22 AM
    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds