UMaine researchers turn discarded lobster shells into golf tees

UMaine researchers turn discarded lobster shells into golf tees

University of Maine researchers have developed golf tees made from discarded lobster shells, turning thousands of tons of shell waste into a potential new product

ORONO, Maine —

Thousands of tons of lobster shells are discarded in Maine each year.

Now, University of Maine researchers are finding a new use for them: golf tees.

According to the University of Maine, the state’s lobster industry discards up to 50,000 tons of lobster shells annually. Researchers have spent more than a decade developing a way to turn the shells into agricultural, temporary and single-use products.

Their latest innovation is a golf tee made from powdered lobster shells and other natural materials.

Researchers say the shells, supplied by Shucks Maine Lobster Company, are dried, broken into pieces, ground into a fine powder and sifted before being combined into a proprietary composite material. Natural food dyes are used to create tees in a variety of colors.

The team hopes the project will lead to even more uses for discarded lobster shells in the future.

The golf tees are still in the testing phase. Researchers say the next steps include pursuing product licensing or launching a company to bring the tees to market.