Chitosan Bioplastics

Material From Shrimp Shells – The biodegradable material Chitosan Bioplastics was developed as a research project by industrial designers Paul Kheem and Ronny Haberer during their studies at New York’s Pratt Institute. In order to reduce global marine pollution, they use the chitin found in shrimp shells to develop a plastic alternative from it. Acetylation of the biopolymer yields[...]

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MILK MaterialLab ChitosanBioplastics PaulKheem

Tômtex

Material from chitin and coffee grounds – Tômtex makes leather from seafood waste and used coffee grounds. Seafood shells contain a large amount of chitin, which promotes biodegradability of the material. After preparation, the raw materials are refined with a layer of beeswax. Sealing ensures the water resistance of the material and allows individual surface texture. This allows design patterns such[...]

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MILK MaterialLab Bayonix Stefan Hunger

Biotrem

Wheat Bran Disposable Tableware – Growing up in a family that had already been running a mill for decades, Jerzy Wysocki decided to give the residual product of grain milling, wheat bran, a use. He developed a natural material from the grain shell and a small amount of water, which is suitable for use as disposable tableware by hot[...]

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MILK MaterialLab Biotrem Geschirr aus Weizenkleie MILK-MaterialLab-Biotrem-Geschirr-aus-Weizenkleie-6

Totomoxtle

Corn material – Totomoxtle is a new type of veneer material made from Mexican corn husks. The purple, red as well as cream corn grains give a unique design to the lamps, wall coverings, cans and tables. Fernando Laposse’s goal here is to preserve jobs and safeguard the agricultural diversity of his home country. With the declining[...]

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MILK MaterialLab Totomoxtle Fernando Laposse

That’s Caffeine

Furnishings from recycled coffee scraps – Atticus Durnell recycles coffee scraps by making furnishings such as lamps, plates and even tiles from them. By pressing these remains with resin, completely biodegradable products succeed. Subsequent sealing provides individual color in addition to water and temperature resistance. The idea of the Briton gives the previously unused waste a new functionality and thus[...]

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MILK MaterialLab ThatsCaffeine Atticus Durnell

Scoby Packaging

Packaging from organic waste – MakeGrowLab’s woven biowaste packaging is made entirely of cellulose, making it free of toxic pollutants, synthetic polylactides and fossil fuels. Scoby is 40 times more durable than paper and is compostable and plastic-free due to its natural ingredients. Thanks to its airtightness and water resistance, Scoby has already been able to encase shampoos, soaps,[...]

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Pinepac

Packing from pine needles – Pinepac, the winner of the 2017 International Packaging Contest in the Material category, is a package made of pine needles and resin. To produce them, the plants are crushed and mixed with the organic binder resin. The resulting mixture is then pressed into molds, which consist of salt, flour, sunflower oil and water. Subsequent[...]

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MILK MaterialLab PinePac Lina Petersson Arina Pauli MILK-MaterialLab-PinePac-Lina Petersson-Arina Pauli-4

MarinaTex

Packaging Substance From Fish Waste and Red Algae – Product design student Lucy Huges’ project at the University of Sussex involves developing a novel packaging solution that is sustainable and biodegradable. More than 100 experiments required the material called MarinaTex, which is made from the agar of red algae and the proteins of fish waste. The natural raw materials of the oceans are[...]

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KAIKU Living Color

Colors From Food Skins – KAIKU Living Color is a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-derived paints. Using food trays from vegetables that have already been eaten offers a chemical- and toxin-free option for coloring materials. For the preparation of living colors are particularly suitable avocados, beet, onions and oranges. These are boiled so that first the juice is obtained[...]

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MILK MaterialLab Kaiku Living Color MILK-MaterialLab-Kaiku-Living-Color-5

Ecoenclose

Recyclable Packaging and Shipping Material – The environmentally friendly packaging from ecoenclose consists primarily of reusable materials that have already been used and recycled. By not using new bioplastics, not only are new materials saved, but also the resources used to produce them. The American company focuses on the use of renewable energies and conscious waste management – with a[...]

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MILK MaterialLab Ecoenclose

Chip[s] Board

Material From Potato Scraps – The company name of Chip[s] Board already reveals its main product component – potatoes. The company’s Parblex plastics [PBX] are created from the remains of potato processing, among other abundant resources. To this end, chip manufacturers such as the Canadian producer McCain Foods take their waste to the respective production facilities where the fiber-reinforced[...]

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MILK MaterialLab Chipsboard

Vericool

Sustainable thermal packaging – Since traditional Styrofoam containers are not biodegradable, Vericool® has developed various thermal designs that keep the contents at constant temperatures. The compostable insulation, consisting of renewable and already consumed materials, can be disposed of in the household compost after a long period of use, thus preventing ecological pollution. Vericool® is particularly suitable for transporting[...]

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MILK MaterialLab Vericool Thermopackaging MILK-MaterialLab-Vericool-Thermopackaging-3