Photo: Ari Jonsson
Every year, enough plastic is thrown “away” to circle the globe 4 times; however, the material takes approximately 1,000 years to break down. This means that while one might throw it in the trash, it’s either piling up in landfills, being swallowed by unsuspecting wildlife, or swirling in one of the huge garbage patches in the oceans.
Because plastic water bottles come with a higher price tag than most realize, Icelandic product designer Ari Jónsson decided he needed to “be the change” and develop a material that can biodegrade in a rapid period of time.
Photo: Ari Jonsson
His solution was to invent a water bottle made from agar, a substance derived from algae. Agar dates back to the 1650’s when a Japanese innkeeper tossed out extra soup and saw it gel together overnight. It later made its way into microbiology labs in the late 1800’s and is still used today to separate molecules.
Photo: Ari Jonsson
Dezeen reports that the algae bottle retains its unique shape until it is empty, and then it begins to break down. The all-natural alternative to plastic can even be chewed on (if people enjoy the taste).
Photo: Ari Jonsson
While the algae-based packaging might not be as appealing as a transparent plastic container, it certainly is better for the environment and one’s health.
Photo: Ari Jonsson
SOURCE: True Activist
