The Green Resources

Seaweed is the common name for marine plants and algae that grows in saltwater environments mainly on the coasts of the sea and can grow up to 50 meters. The appearance is very diverse and ranges from voluminous kelp leaves to herbaceous algae. There are red algae, brown algae, and bladderwrack. The algae grow on solid ground in the sea and they attach to rocks and hard materials. The aquatic plants filter pollutants from the water, release oxygen into the water. One square meter of seaweed can produce up to 15 liters of oxygen a day, and its roots aerate the seafloor.

Seaweed is often mixed up with seagrasses, which are marine plants that live in shallow salty and brackish waters in many parts of the world, from the tropics to the Arctic Circle. Seagrasses have roots, stems and often long green, grass-like leaves. In distinction to seaweed, seagrasses produce flowers and seeds. They grow to large underwater meadows on the ocean floor and absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂). Similar to trees that take carbon from the air, seagrasses capture large amount of carbon from the atmosphere. According to scientific studies the world’s seagrass meadows can take in up to 83 million metric tons of carbon each year. As one of the most productive ecosystems in the world, seagrasses provide shelter and food to a diverse community of animals, ranging from crabs, turtles to large fish, marine mammals and birds.

Seaweed is used as a source of food in many maritime countries in Asia. Microalgae products are also used in fuels, foods, chemical products, cosmetics, and feedstuffs. Further applications include to convert seaweed into biocoal and to use Sargassum as a construction material for bricks. Seagrass is used for various applications such as insulation of buildings, filler material of mattresses and pillows as well as material for baskets and furniture, sun hats. Furthermore, seagrasses are used as fertlizer as well as for wound healing.

• Seagrass does not mold and is therefore particularly suitable for outdoor use. Pests such as dust mites avoid it.
• Seagrass can absorb many times its dry weight in moisture. It is an excellent alternative to synthetic fill materials because it absorbs moisture from the air and releases it again without any problems.
• As a natural product, seaweed is free of chemical additives.
• As a natural resource it can be disposed on the compost, in the garden or in the organic waste bin.
• It is not flammable.
• If seaweed is pressed down, it rustles and crackles.

Notpla is a non-chemically modified material made from seaweed and plants that is used for paper and packaging. As natural substance it is classified as biodegradable and home-compostable.

The Seaweed Revolution

Global Seaweed Coalition

Algae Planet