Sustainability Magazine January 2020 | Page 47

PACKAGING
beta carotene than carrots , has an iron content that outstrips spinach 50 times over , as well as being rich in amino acids , B vitamins , calcium and niacin .
could supplement diets to combat malnutrition , replace soy protein used in livestock feed and thereby reduce associated deforestation , boost air quality through its carbon capture and oxygen production , and provide a cleaning medium for industrial wastewater . Space10 enthuses that spirulina , a strain of micro-algae that ’ s suitable for human consumption , trumps a number of popular vegetables at their own game : it contains more
PACKAGING
Bio-based packaging is an exciting concept that ’ s gaining traction in many industries . We recently reported that Hellmann ’ s is in the process of replacing its sauce sachets with a packaging alternative made from seaweed – a form of macroalgae – that ’ s proving to be a hit with consumers . Algal packaging is extremely versatile , capable of being the basis for both rigid and flexible materials , and is , vitally , biodegradable . This potential solution to environmental harm caused by singleuse plastics was first developed by Chile-based designer Margarita Talep in response to her frustration with the proliferation of single-use plastics in the food industry .
This , a small selection of ways that algae could change the world , highlights the efficacy with which nature itself can offer some of the most viable solutions to the environmental crises of the modern age .
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