Another Alternative to Plastic...Algae

When I began looking for other alternatives to plastic and what might take its place in the future, I came across more and more articles regarding algae. This new form of alternative "plastic" might turn out to be the world's best source for, well, saving the world. It turns out that algae - pond scum, kelp, seaweed, and the like- can be used for many a thing: the biofuel feedstock that saves the world without raising food prices, a possible vacuum that sucks up global warming carbon dioxide, and even a material that makes bioplastics, which disintegrate into compost rather than building up in a landfill.

In another sense, algae can now be considered the thing that is new from the phrase 'everything old is new again.' Algae grows quickly, with some species doubling in volume size overnight. And nearly half the body weight of some species may contain oil. With new technology, it is now easier to grow acres of algae in mass quantities. Today, some companies already commercially grow about six microalgae for thickeners, farmed fish feed, dental molds, adhesives, ulcer medicines and even fuel. The idea for using algae in a fuel capacity was actually tested about 50 years ago, thus this is not a new concept. With renewed interest, many companies have poured money into the algae biofuel industry. Bill Gates just invested in the San Diego start-up company, Sapphire Energy, which intends to make auto fuel from algae, expanding into developing gasoline equivalents such as diesel and jet fuel.

Pros of growing and using algae are pretty straightforward as shown above. But here are more:

*Algae can grow in wastewater- no need for freshwater being used and wasted.

*Algae uses carbon dioxide as it grows.

*Algae also produces fewer hydrocarbons when burned, providing a hedge against climate change.

*An acre of algae can possibly produce up to 100,000 gallons of fuel in a year. This figure compares favorably with the 50 gallons that an acre of soybeans produce.

Though it may take up to 10 years before the effect of algae is large enough to make an impact on the world and marketplace, it still is the best known solution to replacing a lot of the most toxic and polluting items out there, such as plastic. Hopefully it happens sooner than later, but it provides hope, at least for now.

**Reference: American Way Magazine, 12/15/08, Heather Millar