Indonesia is the largest global producer of red seaweed , which can be used to make bio - plastics and packaging . It is also the second worst country for marine plastic pollution after China and has committed to reduce marine waste by 70 % by 2025 . At ##ably , most bio - plastic are derived from sources such as cassava , coconut and rice . they can be recycled cheaply and without use of fresh water or chemicals . Seaweed beds also de - acidify water and serve as carbon sinks . Indonesian start - up Evoware , which is already producing seaweed products , including packaging , by hand hopes to be fully automated next year .
Indonesia is the largest global producer of red seaweed, which can be used to make bio-plastics and packaging. It is also the second worst country for marine plastic pollution after China and has committed to reduce marine waste by 70% by 2025. At present, most bio-plastics are derived from sources such as cassava, corn and sugarcane. Seaweed can be grown cheaply and without use of fresh water or chemicals. Seaweed beds also de-acidify water and serve as carbon sinks. Indonesian start-up Evoware, which is already producing seaweed products, including packaging, by hand hopes to be fully automated next year.