Chicken-feather fiber as bio-based substitute for fiberglass boat hulls?

In New Zealand, University of Waikato’s Dr. Johan Verbeen is working on taking chicken feathers and turning them into fibers that, when added to plastic, could be strong enough to be used in the marine industry.  His group is working with co-product company Wallace Corporation aiming to take a low value product and convert it into a product worth three or four times more that can sustain a profitable business.

The team is working to make something akin to a glass fiber that could be used for boat hulls, ceiling panels or packaging.  Dr. Verbeek explains, “The advantage is that chicken feathers are lighter than glass or carbon and save on weight and therefore energy.”