Bioplastic, Liquid Wood
With plastic toys turning up toxic and non-biodegradable shopping bags jamming landfills, German scientists have developed something called bioplastic, or liquid wood.
It’s made using waste material from the paper-making process and includes taking wood pulp, mixing it with hemp, flax or wood fibers and other additives to make a nontoxic wax that can be used to create a material similar to petroleum-based plastics.
A German company named Tecnaro invented liquid wood, or Arboform as it’s officially known, and they’re currently working on perfecting the technique. But, it’s already being used to make things like car parts, golf tees and ballpoint pens.
And, as MSNBC reports, they recently used liquid wood to make intricate figurines for a holiday Nativity scene.
