🍃 There’s nothing fishy about this...

Did you know?

Fish waste could be the answer to plastic pollution.

Sounds a little fishy, right? But this is the real deal.

Lucy Hughes, a UK-based innovator, turned discarded fish scales, skin, and red algae into a fully biodegradable bioplastic. A great example of what happens when you start seeing waste as a resource. 

Here’s why it’s more than just an interesting science experiment. 

- MarinaTex, the bioplastic she created, is stronger than a regular plastic bag. 

- It completely breaks down in just six weeks with no microplastics and no pollution. 

- One Atlantic cod alone can produce 1,400 bags.

This innovative idea also solves two problems at once:

1. Plastic pollution: It replaces harmful, slow degrading materials.

2. Fishing industry waste: It turns discarded byproducts into something useful.

This was made possible all because someone dared to look at waste differently.

The big idea:

Most people see waste as a dead end. 

But some innovators see it as raw material.

And that’s fantastic because every industry has byproducts, scraps, and leftovers. 

The problem is most of them end up in landfills or get incinerated. 

But what if we changed that?

- Food waste → Biofuel.
- Textile scraps → New fabrics.
- Construction waste → Recycled building materials.

Or mix it between sectors if that is where the best match seems to be.

The businesses of the future won’t just be selling products. 

They will be redefining waste and turning it into opportunities.

And that’s exactly what sustainability is all about. 

Designing smarter, better systems that work for both people and the planet.

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Tip of the week:

Want to start thinking like an innovator? Try this:

Assess your own waste. 

Whether at home or in business, what’s being thrown out that could have another life?

Challenge the norm. 

Just because something has always been discarded doesn’t mean it should be. 

What would it take for a leftover resource (waste) to become a valuable resource? And for whom? 

While you are at it - could alternative materials be interesting for you?

Bioplastics, recycled materials, and circular solutions might be smart options for your business.

Interested in continuing this conversation? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or reply to this email.

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Every step we take together makes a bigger impact tomorrow!

Best,
Jasper