BEYONDPLASTIC Coffee Talk

BEYONDPLASTIC Coffee Talk :: Episode 9 with integrated designer Rania Elkalla

Shell Homage [http://shellhomage.com/] is a biodegradable composite material out of egg and nut shells without toxic chemicals. It is completely biodegradable and can decompose when no longer in use. It can be used in several industries as product design, interior design, consumable goods and jewelry design. Shell Homage is founded by the integrated designer Rania Elkalla [https://www.instagram.com/shellhomage/] and was initiated during her master research project. The material properties can be controlled according to the application from stiff, hard, transparent, translucent or opaque surfaces to elastic and malleable sheets. The surfaces looks like marble or natural stone but the material is much lighter. The created composite material can be pressed, extruded, 3D printed or formed by injection molding. Each surface is handcrafted into unique combination of colors and patterns. It is 100% compostable when it is no longer in use.

BEYONDPLASTIC Coffee Talk :: Episode 8 with designer Elena Amato from Ponto Biodesign

Elena Amato is a designer from Guatemala currently living in Brazil. She is passionate about circular design, developing materials using biofabrication and thinking about creative applications for them.  In 2019 she founded Ponto Biodesign [https://www.instagram.com/pontobiodesign/], a biofabrication lab and design studio, where she has created sheets of bacterial cellulose with paper-like qualities as a sustainable alternative to the plastic packaging used in personal care products. The dried bacterial cellulose material can be glued together using water, eliminating the need to use glues or other adhesives when sealing the packaging. Natural pigments such as spirulina, hibiscus, saffron and charcoal are added to the mixture during the blending process to achieve different colors. In addition to these qualities, the low-tech manufacturing process has a minimal level of energy consumption, and Elena Amato envisions it being made locally to generate jobs in the area as well as eliminating the need to transport raw materials from far away.

BEYONDPLASTIC Coffee Talk :: Episode 7 with co-founder Insiya Jafferjee from THE SHELLWORKS

THE SHELLWORKS [https://www.theshellworks.com/] makes home-compostable materials from seafood waste that degrade in just 4-6 weeks. After the product life-cycle the material will start degrading when placed in earth and even acts as a natural fertilizer for plants. They developed a range of products for their clients such as candle containers, plant pots, films, and plinths. Also, they license their technology to companies who want to manufacture products on their own.

BEYONDPLASTIC Coffee Talk :: Episode 6 with co-founder Valentina Aliaga of LABVA

LABVA [https://www.instagram.com/somoslabva/] stands for Laboratorio de Biomateriales de Valdivia (Chile) which is an independent, self organized community group. Together they go out in nature to study plants & natural materials and experiment creating new biomaterials by developing kitchen recipes or growing them. But the enthusiastic people involved in this admirable initiative do even more than designing new biomaterials. They have a holistic vision: In today’s world we often are disconnected from a product’s origin and its possible impact on the environment. So LABVA’s approach is about reconnecting with nature and the local culture and build an awareness, emotional binding and cultural identity with materials and their use. The key to LABVA’s success is connecting people locally, experimenting playfully and teaching children.  Because it is our children who will shape the culture of the world of tomorrow!

BEYONDPLASTIC Coffee Talk :: Episode 5 with material designer Paula Nerlich and her Aqua Faba Foam project

Material Designer Paula Nerlich [https://www.instagram.com/paula_nerlich/] is developing a bioplastic based on aquafaba from chickpeas as part of her research into circular, compostable biomaterials. The material, which is currently under development, shows great potential for mechanical manufacturing and thus for industrial production. The biomaterial varies in color from cream white to pink and changes its color over time. However, it can be dyed with natural or food colors. The structure can be flexible or hard, the recipe is adaptable. The biomaterial is completely vegan and biodegradable. Compostability is currently being tested. The temporary nature of biodegradable biomaterials reminds us of the flow of nature and makes us appreciate the quality of impermanence. The transience of the materials has the potential to create a higher value in the end product, while also emphasizing the circular nature of the material.