What is SCRIPPS?
From negative changes in our ecosystems to plastic pollution of the oceans – the SCRIPPS Institution of Oceanography of the University of San Diego deals with the greatest ecological challenges of our times. We examined the kind of work that SCRIPPS does to improve the planet – and in so doing we also shed light on comprehensive research conducted by SCRIPPS that examined the biodegradability in the ocean of both fossil-based synthetic fibers on the one hand and wood-based VEOCEL™-fibers on the other hand.
Plastic pollution in the sea is a problem which affects around 800 kinds of living creatures – both on the soil and under water – and every year it is responsible for the death of over one million mammals and marine birds. To counteract this negative development, the global research of scientific establishments which look into solutions to the plastic crisis, is essential. One of them is the SCRIPPS Institution of Oceanography of the University of California. In 2015 for the very first time the Institute – which publishes around 700 scientific publications per annum and has already produced two Nobel Prize winners – was elected by the leading specialist journal Nature as one of the most important scientific Institutions worldwide in the field of marine research. The research work from SCRIPPS is dedicated to the great ecological challenges of our times such as the effects of climate change on marine fauna and flora, research on biodiversity in our oceans or research to improve our understanding of natural threats - such as earthquakes or tsunamis.
An experiment on the biodegradability of fibers
The team from SCRIPPS also searches for concrete solutions as is illustrated by their current research work, which was published quite recently. As has already been reported, under the direction of Dr. Dimitri Deheyn, SCRIPPS researched what the situation actually is with regard to the biodegradability of VEOCEL™-fibers in the ocean. In an elaborate analysis, which lasted for several years, they examined whether and how quickly different fibers are degraded in natural conditions in the ocean. VEOCEL™ fibers were degraded under water in only 28 days – an exciting and important result which shows that wood-based cellulose fibers decompose at the end of their life cycle in sea water and are thus clearly the superior alternative to fossil-based fibers like polyester. All of the details of the experiment and other interesting facts and figures can be found here: It's in our hands: SCRIPPS: on the search for biological degradability in the ocean (itsinourhands.com)
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