PLANES Made of PLANTS

Scientists are looking for creative ways to reduce airplanes' carbon footprints by making them fly more efficiently and developing sustainable fuels. But what about the materials in the planes themselves?

- Rachel Craft

Today's planes contain up to 50 percent composites. A composite is a material consisting of two or more substances with different properties-usually a plastic resin with glass or carbon fibers mixed in. The fibers make composites extremely strong without adding much weight.

The only problem: These types of composites aren't very eco-friendly. They consist mostly of plastic, which is made from nonrenewable resources like crude oil. Making plastics from oil uses a lot of energy and produces greenhouses gases like carbon dioxide. These composites also typically aren't biodegradable or recyclable.