The U.S. poultry industry produces more than 4 billion pounds of chicken feathers every year* – so finding a way to put all of this fluff to good use would not only benefit frustrated chicken farmers but the environment too. A recent study reported at an American Chemical Society meeting states that this “bio-waste” could possibly have a greater purpose. Since feathers are mostly made up ofkeratin, a strong and chemically stable protein, researchers believe that the tons of discarded plumes could possibly contribute to more durable and lighter plastics.
