Step into the future with algae flip flops
These flip flops are made from algae
Location: San Diego, California
Researchers are hoping to make
beach visits more environmentally friendly
by creating biodegradable sandals
Source: UC San Diego
Regular flip flops often decompose into microplastics
which can pollute oceans and seas
(SOUNDBITE) (English) PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY/BIOCHEMISTRY AT US SAN DIEGO, MIKE BURKART, SAYING:
"So we begin by growing algae and we grow them in raceway ponds where we can grow them up to very high density. At that point when they are fully grown, we take the water out of them, we de-water them using this machine right here behind me and basically we're able to get the algae down to a very viscous paste."
The team then extract all the lipids
which is a substance that is insoluble in water
chemically chop them up into purified pieces
and build them into renewable polymers
which can be degraded by organisms in the environment
The lab has previously manufactured
gasoline and surfboards from algae
