Plastics might have been the future in The Graduate, but they turned out to stick around much longer than anticipated and aid in destroying the environment. So, Skipping Rocks Lab decided to figure out a way to make portable water more sustainable. Enter: Ooho! a seaweed-based spherical container that can actually be eaten.

In addition to the huge mountains of waste created by the heavy use of plastic water bottles, the process of making them is also a drain on natural resources. Co-founded by Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, Guillaume Couche and Pierre Paslier, Skipping Rocks Lab use calcium chloride and sodium alginate which comes from seaweed that winds up only costing about a penny per capsule making it much cheaper than plastic bottles.

The Lab recently won an investment from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology in the amount of €20,000 (which translates to about $22,368). The prize went to a number of different companies dedicated to making more sustainable processes for manufacturing a variety of materials.

How does this sphere or water actually work? The scientists looked to fruits as inspiration for ways of carrying liquid. The smaller spheres use double membranes to keep the water inside. For larger amounts, they can be packed together like the inside of an orange segment. First, the water is frozen, then covered in the combination of calcium chloride and sodium alginate. When it thaws, the outside membrane remains, just waiting for you to take a bite. While this format isn’t exactly the best replacement for a sturdy water bottle with your preferred spout, Ooho is definitely a step in the right direction. As an added bonus, Ooho looks like a super fun way to drink all manner of alcoholic drinks and shots!

Article taken from: Geek