Can Indian Seaweed Replace Plastic?
Seaweed and what it can be used for
Seaweed can be used to create a plastic-like film that can cover all kinds of food. The process that
makes this possible takes place in a high-tech lab, but the raw materials come from seaweed. Farm
companies around the world are racing to find eco-friendly versions of the thinnest packaging. It's
the stuff that makes up about half of all Plastics in our oceans. Neha Jane says she's invented a
product that could replace it - we call it Clio 10 films. Farming seaweed doesn't require fertilizers,
fresh water or land - it only needs sunshine and sea water.
Zero Circle is a company name that is dedicated to reducing emissions and waste to zero. They
call themselves "zero Circle" in a nod towards reducing emissions and Waste to Zero. This start
up is competing against seven other plastic alternative companies for a 1.2-million-dollar prize.
Seaweed is a new material that can replace plastic food wrappers while extracting new materials.
Dilip Kumar owns a seaweed farm and supplies zero circle with its raw materials. This stuff grows
fast, so we harvest every 45 days once from the date of seeding. Dilip hires locals like karopia to
build bamboo rafts. At one time fishing dominated this area but in recent years more locals have
been making a living farming seaweed. They're working in the same Waters where they used to
fish earlier and now they're able to cultivate and with over 4 500 miles of Coastline India has quite
a bit of space to grow its seedlings attached to ropes on each raft and each knot holds one ceiling.
Lakshmi's experience in seaweed farming for 18 years has given her insight into the changing
perception of the business among locals, including the involvement of foreign entities in hauling
full rafts for harvest. In the farming process, workers cut the seaweed, leaving some segments to
regrow. The harvested seaweed is then dried in the sun for approximately 36 hours. Afterward,
Lakshmi removes dried salt, seagrass, and other contaminants from the seaweed. The dried
seaweed is left out in the sun for a few more days before being sent to Zero Circles Labs.
Farming seaweed provides a livelihood for Lakshmi and other farmers, but it comes with
challenges, especially regarding the uncertainty of what the ocean may bring each day. It's like
opening a surprise box every day and having to solve the puzzle presented. The farmers do their
best to protect their crops from wind and waves, as these factors can impact the seaweed's growth
and overall quality.
Lakshmi has been tilling seaweed for 18 times and she says locals' perception of this business has
changed quite a bit foreign including hauling full rafts in for crop. Workers cut the seaweed but
leave some parts to regrow also the seaweed dries in the Sun after about 36 hours, Lakshmi removes
dried swab seagrass and other pollutants. The dried seaweed lays out in the sun for a many further
days before heading to zero circles labs. These growers’ seaweed provides a livelihood but it's not
always easy if you do not know what comes in the ocean. For you moment it's like a surprise box
every day and you keep working the mystification every day. They do what they can to cover
their crop from wind swells.
Seaweed farming has increased greatly since 1950, but experts warn of unintended consequences.
Seaweed rafts can block light and disrupt ecosystems if not managed properly. In 2013, a bacteria
decimated the industry in the Philippines due to rafts being too close together. At Zero Circles Lab
in Pune, seaweed is transformed into plastic alternatives through washing, milling, and heating.
The resulting material is gel-like and viscous, and can be moulded and dried into a film that
dissolves in water. Zero Circle's product is compatible with existing machinery and can be used
for various products. The company plans to sell pellets by 2024 for manufacturers to create
biodegradable forms of products.
Zero Circle is expanding its focus beyond plastic films to include other areas that may be
overlooked. Even brands that have switched to paper often still use plastic linings, glues, and
coatings. Zero Circle, along with Neha, is developing seaweed-based alternatives for these
components. This is the first time that a seaweed-based glue has been created, and it is both
formaldehyde-free and free of volatile organic compounds. The glue is strong enough to be used
on cardboard, paper, and wood. By exploring new opportunities such as seaweed-based products,
Zero Circle's potential for growth is vast, and it is surprising that such opportunities have gone
unnoticed in a country like India.
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