Bamboo houses and hemp clothes

A key strategy for reducing the consumption of scarce natural resources is the adoption of green materials. Scientists and researchers are developing an increasing number of materials with a minimal environmental impact or beneficial for the environment.

In this video, a physicist and researcher working with Smart Materials presents two interesting examples. The first one is a special sponge that specifically absorbs oil and has the potential to save our oceans in case of ecological disasters. The second one is a novel plastic material from vegetable wastes that can replace synthetic polymers and that unlike the synthetic polymers is biodegradable and can therefore solve the problem of waste management.

YouTube: Green materials for a greener world: Athanassia Athanassiou at TEDxRoma

Talking point

I think that green materials …

• Can be already profitable and competitive?
• Will be massively used in future, with more evolved solutions?