Mardi Gras beads take up to 500 years to decompose, so these LSU students designed a biodegradable alternative
Throwing and catching gold, green, and purple beads is a cherished Mardi Gras tradition, but as it turns out, these petroleum-based plastic beads have a heavy impact on the New Orleans environment long after celebrations have ended.
Traditional Mardi Gras beads are produced from natural gas and oil-derived feedstock and take an estimated 500 years to decompose. And when they do, they release heavy metals and other toxins into the environment. According to Louisiana State University, they can even clog sewer systems across the city.
So, Alexis Strain and Lauren Rogers, two biological sciences students at LSU, teamed up to create a biodegradable alternative.