I’ve always thought that if you’re going to use an animal, you better use the whole thing. And that’s why I was pleased to see that some people are so dedicated to that concept, they are using animal scraps that come from the slaughterhouse.

A surprising (and measly) 40 percent of an animal that goes to slaughter is processed into the cuts you see in stores. The other 60 percent contains bones, blood, connective tissue, and other parts. These parts of the animals have to either be thrown away, or recycled. Luckily, there are at least three ways people are reusing these typically discarded animal parts.

Wear It

Some scientists are working on a yarn that features slaughterhouse waste as its base material. The researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology say the waste-based yarn is similar to Merino wool. The waste is specifically collagen from skin, bone, and tendon. “The fiber’s creators hope it may one day compete with petroleum-based synthetic fiber,” Modern Farmer reports.

Work Out With It

Some animal body parts have been used for biofuel for years, but present developments are quite an improvement on the fuels of yesteryear. The scientists, who are from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, have discovered “a faster and less wasteful way to convert alligator fat into biofuel.” Apparently, Alligator farming is becoming a booming industry in the Southeastern United States. That farming produces about 15 million pounds of waste a year.

“The new technique uses a continuous reactor instead of a batch reactor, speeding up processing, and doesn’t require a catalyst, which leads to less waste,” reports Modern Farmer. “The researchers are looking into whether other animal fats, such as chicken, pork, and beef, can be converted to biofuel through the same method,” Modern Farmer reports.

Grow With It

A community-based slaughterhouse in Kenya is using animal waste and converting it into fertilizer. And Modern Farmer reports that the fertilizer is being made for “Maasai herdsmen in the hopes of creating faster-growing grass for their grazing cattle.”

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Slaughterhouse image from Shutterstock

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