Why Algae Could Be the Plastic of the Future
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Provided by: Undecided with Matt Ferrell|Published on: April 27, 2021
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video explains how plastic waste (particularly from the fashion industry) has become a significant burden to our world, and how algae-based products are a more sustainable and biodegradable alternative.
- Students will learn about the process of turning algae into footwear and some of the startups that are developing algae-based footwear as an alternative to petroleum-based/plastic footwear.
Subjects: Biology, Economics
Authors: Undecided with Matt Ferrell
Region: Africa, North America, Global, Caribbean
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video is packed with facts and statistics that help validate the arguments made.
- This solution can help address dead zones and water pollution from over-fertilizing lawns, industrial agriculture, and construction projects.
Additional Prerequisites
- This video has two ads.
Differentiation
- Students could create a public service announcement educating consumers about algae-based footwear, including data and fact-based arguments.
- Economics classes could look further into the recent market growth of algae products as well as future market predictions.
- Teachers may choose to pause the video periodically to give students a chance to comprehend the material, as the video is packed with information and the video moves quickly.
- A note-taking guide may help guide students as they watch. This could include headings such as: Harms of Plastics, Benefits of Algae, or Companies Already Replacing Petroleum-Based Plastics with Algae.
- Other resources on this topic include this video on another sustainable alternative to plastic, this mural that explores plastic usage in society, and this video on the harms of plastic pollution.
This resource is a 12-minute video that presents some of the prototype and up-and-coming possibilities for using algae to produce biodegradable plastics. Currently, startups that are trying to replace petroleum-based plastics in shoes, such as flip-flops, are testing the practicality of algae-based shoe wear. This video is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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