Two scientists in the Washington area, USA, have discovered a way to create biodegradable plastics from feathers. The US poultry industry produces around 2000 tonnes of feathers per year and currently 80% of this goes to waste. This new method, by Masud Huda of the Horticultural Research Insitute and Walter Schmidt of the US department of agriculture, gives a way to reuse these feathers and create biodegradable plastic. ‘Feathers are about eight times as strong as cellulose,’ said Walter Schmidt. ‘By design, feathers are strong and durable. If feathers were twice as heavy or half strong then birds couldn't fly.’
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