German startup creates jellyfish product to clean up ocean plastics

Editor /Mohamed Shihab

Kiel, Germany-based startup GoJelly has created a microplastic filter using jellyfish mucus, a product that aims to solve two problems in one, Deutschland.de reports.

According to project leader Jamileh Javidpour, the new product will be marketed under the slogan "a gelatinous solution to microplastic pollution".

The blooms of jellyfish being created by climate change, as well as the increasing pollution of microplastics in the world's oceans are two major issues that the EU currently consider high priority.

GoJelly's intention is to solve one problem with the other, by creating a filter that can be applied to sewage works to absorb plastic particles not filtered out in recycling.

“Jellyfish mucus functions like an adhesive for plastic particles,” Javidpour is quoted as saying in the article. “We are currently investigating how filtering works best and how we can produce it at low cost."

GoJelly is also investigating other jellyfish-derived products, from cosmetics -- jellyfish are a good source of collagen -- to plant fertilizer and fish food, according to Deutschland.de.