Mardi Gras Beads That Grow Flowers: Researchers Created Eco-Friendly Alternative to the Plastic Necklaces

Each year before Lent, colorful strands of Mardi Gras beads glimmer in the streets of New Orleans — but at what cost? Of the estimated 25 million pounds of beads tossed during the celebration annually, only a tiny fraction are recycled. Most end up in landfills or storm drains, and in 2018, the city found 93,000 pounds of them clogging the latter over only five blocks.

While efforts have been made to facilitate recycling, including installing collection boxes to gather beads for future celebrations, usage of the strands doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. So a team of researchers at Louisiana State University developed a solution: biodegradable Mardi Gras beads that can replace the plastic versions, which are often laden with toxic materials.