#FridayFacts: Ep. 4 Nature-Inspired Plastic Alternative

A plastic alternative could come from an unexpected source: seashells.

With initial funding from USC Sea Grant, part of the USC Wrigley Institute, USC Viterbi Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering professor Eunji Chung developed a biodegradable, plastic-like material using minerals found in seashells. Now, with support from a 2025–2027 Wrigley Institute Faculty Innovation Award funded by The Seaver Institute, her lab is working to create a second-generation version that breaks down faster in seawater.

Learn more about the project:

• USC Researchers Develop Plastic Substitute from Mineral Found in Seashells