Of course, mankind needs materials to keep societies running – to make everything from homes to phones – but what if we could use less damaging man-made materials instead of plundering natural ...

Spoons could be made from plastic, wood, or metal. But not glass because it's fragile and could break. Some materials are man-made and developed by scientists. Raincoats are made from waterproof ...

It could also boost the farming economies of countries such as Bangladesh, India, and China – where the jute material is mainly produced – the researchers from The University of Manchester claim. The ...