With these biodegradable Mardi Gras beads, party goers can have fun, guilt-free!
Although the celebration may be fun, it is terrible for the environment. Every year Mardi Gras produces up to 1,000 tons of trash, sometimes more. The biggest portion of this trash are the Mardi Gras beads, which end up in the city’s water system. Thankfully, Professor Naohiro Kato, a biologist from Louisiana State University (LSU), has developed several formulas for biodegradable Mardi Gras beads. Within one to two years, these necklaces will fully break down into the soil!
Professor Kato has developed a process by which a microscopic species of algae called diatoms could be grown. It can then be harvested and turned into a fine powder, which can be used to form throw beads and plastic doubloons. “I believe we can change and do better. We have great resources to make our Mardi Gras celebrations more sustainable and to protect our environment and health,” said Kato.
Kato was first inspired to begin his research when one of his students at LSU neglected a tube of algae, which ended up producing oils used in bioplastic production. “My student was supposed to come into the lab three nights in a row to move our test tube samples of algae from the centrifuge to the freezer, but one night he forgot,” Kato explained. The morning after, Kato experienced an ‘Aha!’ moment when he found a large glob of algae accumulating oils on the bottom of the centrifuge. Immediately, Kato thought of using this substance to make biodegradable Mardi Gras beads.
Kato got to work, he started growing large quantities of microscopic algae, or microalgae, in a six-foot kiddie pool outdoors. Louisiana’s sunny climate, warm, water, and nutrients produce an ideal environment to naturally grow microalgae. However, soon enough, he discovered a major issue – manufacturing algae would be very expensive.
These eco-friendly beads would cost three times as much as plastic beads to produce. Kato’s estimations put the first batch of biodegradable beads at $40,000 for 3,000 necklaces, that’s $13 per necklace. However, he hopes to optimize the process so that it could bring the cost down to as a little as $1 or less per necklace. Furthermore, the growing demand for microalgae from the nutraceutical industry makes it potentially profitable. Kato realized by selling the microalgae to the nutraceutical companies it would offset the high cost.
Professor Kato already has a patent pending to make beads entirely out of microalgae. He uses leftover biomass unused by the nutraceutical industry. Kato’s spinoff company – Microalgae LLC – is located in Baton Rouge. He launched the company to support this business model, and he says that he has already been approached by some angelic investors. Kato is also collaborating with several other university professors, so they can develop a variation of the bead that will be made from wood fiber.
Currently, Professor Kato is in discussion with a nutraceutical company. And he also awaits a contract – to begin production of the biodegradable Mardi Gras beads.
