Man uses nature in a particular important manner by draining its resources. I consider waste is consumed nature . By transforming waste into value product, it is my way of restoring nature that we all drained and sucked dry and have taken for granted.
Whether we simply copy from it, using living organisms in our projects or transfer some of its technologies, nature offers us a fantastic terrain for creativity.
In recent years, many waste-based biomaterial projects have emerged.
Pinatex
Piñatex® is an innovative natural textile made from pineapple leaf fiber. Started by an RCA textile alumni-Dr. Carmen Hijosa. Pinatex is a great example of designers’ attempt to harness the value from waste we produce by consuming nature (Pinatex is made with a by-product of the pineapple harvest). These leaves are discarded from the pineapple harvest, so the raw material requires no additional environmental resources to produce.
Shellworks
As a project by another RCA and Imperial College alumni, Shellworks have developed a series of machines that turn seafood waste into a biodegradable and recyclable plastic. This project transform the shells of crustaceans into a paper-like material that could act as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic. The material consists of a mixture of vinegar and a biopolymer named chitin- a fibrous substance that makes up the exoskeleton of crustaceans and the cell walls of fungi.
Biocouture
Suzanne Lee, the founder of BioCouture explore how organisms like bacteria, yeast, fungi and algae could be harnessed to produce fabrics. Fashion industry is one of the most polluting industry. If the future of fashion can be waste-based biomaterial, it might transform the entire industry and the way we consume fashion and textile.
RCA Graduate diploma 2019 