Louisiana Mardi Gras Going Green with Biodegradable Beads?

Almost nobody could argue with a good parade.  Heck, they even wrote a song about it.  "I Love a Parade!"  (I bet you've never actually heard the entire song)  But when it comes to Mardi Gras parades in Louisiana, there are some things that people would like to see changed.

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Matthew Lin, one of the founders of the always popular Highland Parade, recently told KEEL News, he would like to see the elimination of what is called "trash beads."  Trash beads are different than the larger, specialty beads.

We like, Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse.�� When the nicer beads are being thrown, when I say nicer, I mean very, very nice. Like, they would cost $5, people will keep those.  But... they're even called trash beads.  And so when people buy them, they even say, "Well, I want some trash beads also."  Well, those trash beads, they go in the trash.

Linn said he's not looking to ban beads, but he would like to see the parades using the nicer beads, and other collectibles people won't leave lying in the middle of the street.

LSU Researchers Create a Bio-degradable Mardi Gras Bead

But now, there might be a solution to the trash beads.  LSU researchers have now developed a bio-degradable Mardi Gras bead.

Not only are the new beads biodegradable, but they even contain seeds that when the beads break down, the seed will actually sprout little plants.  LSU researchers grow microscopic algae that they process into a powder that can be used to create different products, including biodegradable plastic, from which the Mardi Gras beads are made.