Design ideas to save the world

More than two billion tons of trash are produced annually, according to a report by the United Nations. They also state that 99% of the products we buy are thrown away in just six months, on average. It would take 70% of another planet Earth to dispose of it. to sustain consumption at the current rate. The idea of the world we want to leave for future generations has already been replaced by the urgency of rethinking the impact of our actions in the present, as well as the cycle of production, use and disposal of resources and waste. Reassessing the involvement of local communities to promote different initiatives are also - or should be - on the agenda. One good piece of news in this apocalyptic scenario is the increased interest among architects, designers and artists in innovation. True research laboratories are developing products from the most unexpected raw materials - who would have imagined a fabric made from coconut water? They are looking for solutions in tune with with animal care, climate balance, combating waste and alternatives to the use of plastic.

Recycled gold - that's right

Designer duo Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin from Formafantasma created the Ore Streams project to explore the potential for reusing electronic waste. They repurpose gold, found in computer circuits and other equipment, into new surface finishes. They also They have repurposed cell phone cases, laptop keyboards, microwave parts and other items. In this way, they draw attention to the growing waste of electronics and the speed at which they become obsolete.

Coconut Water

Seetal Solanki is the founder of the design studio Ma-tt-er, which developed the Malai compound. Vegan and water-resistant, it looks like leather or paper. In fact, it is produced by bacteria naturally present in coconut water, which They develop in a humid environment. The bacteria culture is fed by coconut water - considered a waste product - collected by farmers in southern India who work with processing the fruit.

Yeasts and bacteria

In the project From Peel to Peel, Italian designer Emma Sicher produces disposable food packaging. Her raw material? A culture of microorganisms that thrive on fruit and vegetable scraps. They react and transform fructose and vitamins in layers of cellulose. It may look quite strange, but the gelatin-like result rests, goes through a drying process and becomes a translucent sheet. The material can have several applications, molding objects, accessories and other items.

Planterna

Particles that promote bioluminescence, like the glow of jellyfish, can generate light and reduce electricity consumption. This is the idea of two American scientists, Michael Strano and Sheila Kennedy, who incorporated luciferase nanoparticles into watercress leaves ( photo) and other plants. Thus, Planterna or Planters emerged. The technology would allow, for example, to transform trees into lampposts or use them to light a house.

Artist Jae Rhim Lee has developed this suit that neutralizes the toxins released during the process and also transfers the nutrients to the surrounding plants. The Infinity Burial Suit costs $1,500, will also make the suits available for pets (!) and has a waiting list of customers.

Submerged structures

Israeli artist Erez Nevi Pana submerged wooden structures wrapped in loofahs in the Dead Sea, which has high concentrations of salt. He let them crystallize, like coral forming. The result is pieces like Bleached, which evoke an immediate awareness of the importance of preserving marine life and the impact of human interaction with the environment.

Palm leather

Using treated palm leaf fibers, it is possible to create a leather-like material and use it to make rugs. Dutch fashion designer Tjeerd Veenhoven has found a sustainable and vegan alternative to traditional leather after eight years of research.

Pineapple leather

The Votch brand has already won a Vegan Award. It manufactures eco-friendly watches, and one of its lines features a material called Pinatex, a name derived from pineapple. The leaves of the plant are used to make this type of leather used in the straps. .

Alternative to traditional leather

Another experiment that resulted in a leather-like material was carried out by designer Don Kwaning. He began researching the composition of linoleum, and his result came to Lino: a resistant and vegan compound that can be used in furniture and upholstery. The color variation depends on the wood flour included as one of the components.

Vegan Apple Fabric

Even big brands and designers are getting involved in experimenting with new materials. Cassina has teamed up with French designer Philippe Starck, who has reinvented some pieces using a vegan fabric made from apples that would otherwise be discarded as industrial waste. Called Apple Ten Lork, the The material even won an award at the 2019 PETA Vegan Homeware Awards. PETA is a foundation that brings together activists involved in the ethical treatment of animals.

Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary

The monarch butterfly population is facing a serious decline, which highlights environmental imbalance and the excessive use of pesticides. This year, the Terreform One project installed a small commercial building in New York that is a true biome, integrating the butterfly habitat into its facades and on the roof. The action brings butterflies to the city, increases the presence of other species and demonstrates what should seem obvious: plants, insects and human beings can coexist in harmony. It is unlikely that these ideas will solve the problems faced by the planet today, nor will they be manufactured on a large scale. But the set of these creations has the role of strengthening a message and a legacy, understood and shared by a greater number of people.