Greener plastic made from leftover fish guts and bones

A safer and more environmentally-friendly polyurethane-like polymer has been created using fishery and aquaculture waste. The work, led by chemistry professor Francesca Kerton from Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada, was presented at the American Chemical Society’s virtual spring conference.

Polyurethane production typically requires crude oil and toxic phosgene, and the synthesis generates isocyanates, which are skin and respiratory irritants. The material isn’t biodegradeable either, and carcinogenic compounds can be released from the limited breakdown that does occur.