Shrimp shells could be the next alternative to plastic

Shrimp shells are being made into biodegradable plastic that could be used to make grocery bags or packaging. Shrimp shells are normally just thrown away but researchers at Nile University in Egypt bought unused shells from fishermen, grocery stores and restaurants, and were able to create a thin plastic using 'Chitosan', a material found in Crustacean shells. Egypt imports around 3,500 tons of shrimp that they import with the shells attached. Around 1,000 tons are shells that have no use. What is important is the project is that instead of throwing the shells they plan to create a substitute for plastic. Biodegradable bags can be created and the product that was useless is now valuable. The shells are cleaned, dried, treated, ground up, and dissolved in solution that dries into plastic film. Traditional plastic is pretty bad for the environment. Plastic doesn't break down. Every piece ever made still exists today. It sits in land fills releasing harmful chemicals or gets into the ocean killing around 100,000 marine habitats a year. If animals were to eat plastics made from the shrimp, they would be fine. Researchers are working on ways to produce this new plastic on a big scale which could have a very positive impact on the environment.