The Sea Collection
As Seetal Solanki explains in the book Why Materials Matter, everything we build is made of something. Just take a moment to look around you; materials surround us. Metal, plastic, ceramics, glass, cotton, wool, leather and many others are materials that determine our civilisation.
Throughout history, different cultures have discovered and developed materials. Humans have made tools and artefacts out of them and, in doing so, built the society we live in today. But while they are essential to us, we have ignored the life cycle of the materials and the consequences of their production, use and disposal for a long time, while living in a linear 'take-make-waste' model.
The use of materials has determined past civilisations and directs us towards the world in which we will live in the future.
Material choices are intimately tied to our planet's present and future health. Shifting our thinking to a circular model requires us to know and develop more ecological and sustainable alternatives. It is essential to promote and share research and knowledge because the challenges are worldwide.
Due to the actual critical scenario and the urgent need to change materials production to have a lower social and ecological impact, the Nature Research department at the Jan van Eyck Academie collaborated with MA Materials Futures at Central St Martins created the Future Material Bank. It is an online meeting place and database for materials that focus on artists, designers and people interested in more sustainable solutions. The project aims to inspire creatives to cultivate a more holistic practice through research and an ongoing attempt to learn how to make better-informed choices about the materials we use.
The Future Material Bank's content is crowdsourced by 45 art organisations in Asia, Latin America and Europe, all part of the Green Art Lab Alliance.
Aligned with similar values and aspirations, the Future Material Bank has invited Plural Magazine to collaborate with a virtual collection.
The Sea Collection
The Sea Collection aims to highlight projects that question the current linear economy and support circular thinking. Designers from different parts of the world explore sea elements to produce materials that promise a more ecological and regenerative future. They show the importance of rethinking waste and its potential as a biodegradable and compostable raw material.
Posidonia by Andrés Ramírez (Studiograma.es)
Andrés Ramírez (Studiograma.es) created a seafloor with Posidonia. A vital marine plant found in the Mediterranean Sea and a species that is in danger of extinction.
The rhizome of the plant loses its fibres, the movement of the sea sews natural fibre balls, and the natural material arrives at the Mediterranean coasts. The project aims to optimise using those natural balls to benefit the economy of the regions around the sea and help local and sustainable companies.
Calcáreo - biodegradable material similar to ceramic by Caro Pacheco.
Calcáreo - biodegradable material similar to ceramic by Caro Pacheco.
Caro Pacheco developed Calcáreo, a biodegradable material similar to ceramic by using the waste of Chile's mussel-farming industry. Biobased Calcáreo arises from the experimentation and optimization of a biocomposite between milled mussel shells and an alginate solution, a polysaccharide derived from brown algae. The bio-based material when is submerged in water, it dissolves, reincorporating into the ecosystem.
Lugae by Caro Pacheco
Another interesting project by Caro Pacheco is Lugae. It's a bio-material created from algae that can be used as a substitute for oil-based plastics and leather. Valentina Marquez, Fernanda Vio and Tomás Vivanco contributed to the project.
Based on the research carried out and the importance of promoting the use of local resources, Lugae is a bio-material produced in the form of a thin sheet, made from three ingredients of organic origin: carrageenan, vegetable glycerin, and water. Carrageenan is a polysaccharide extracted in Chile from red algae species (red luga, black luga and short luga), it is used in the food industry, as a stabiliser and binder and also on dairy foods and beverages
Daria Biryukova (Studio Mixtura) developed colourful glazes made from local crushed shells' waste streams.
Daria Biryukova (Studio Mixtura) developed colourful glazes made from local crushed shells' waste streams that can be applied in the ceramic industry. The project named Crassostrea was created during her residency at the Vista Alegre Atlantis in Portugal.
Although calcium carbonate material is cheap and commonly used in ceramic, it still needs to be extracted.
Commonly mined, well-known deposits are found in the limestone cliffs of England, France and Belgium. Marble and calcite ores are abundant everywhere. But the mining generates a lot of environmental problems, and that led the designer to question it. Why dig up and extract the primary raw materials at remote locations if you can use a source which is available locally and at the same time tackle pollution?
Jade Ruijzenaars explores the potential of the shrimp shells discarded by the food markets in a new application in ceramic glazing.
Jade Ruijzenaars explores the potential of the shrimp shells discarded by the food markets in a new application in ceramic glazing in the project Crangon Crangon. The majority of Dutch shrimp is caught in the North Sea, transported to Morocco to be peeled, and then shipped back to Europe for consumption. Roughly 60-70% of a shrimp consists of its shell, which is not consumed and generates a high quantity of waste.
Nienke Hoogvliet and Tim Jongerius (Studio Nienke Hoogvliet)seaweed research
Nienke Hoogvliet and Tim Jongerius (Studio Nienke Hoogvliet) seaweed research - natural dye.