Crustaceans are some of the seaâs most sought-after delicacies, and they have the bonus of coming in their own durable packaging. Unfortunately, weâve found little use for their exoskeletons, which usually end up in a landfillâor, if your chef game is at an all-time high, youâre at least using those shells for a lobster stock before grinding them up and throwing them in your compost bin.
Researchers at McGill University, however, have found a new use for lobster shellsâmaking plastic.
The shells of insects and crustaceans contain a material known as chitin, a fibrous component of arthropodsâ exoskeletons thatâs responsible for their toughness. The chemical structure, first discovered by Albert Hoffman (of LSD fame), is similar to cellulose, a plant-derived compound that is used to make paper, cellophane film and textiles.
