Bioplastics and Biopolymers
2019-2020
Multidisciplinary research of materials from renewable sources
Collaboration with Bioapp platform and
National Institute of Chemistry Ljubljana
Part of “123 Zero” startup interenship
This project was a part of a multidisciplinary program, where a group of scientists, technicians, and designers collaborated in researching and developing biopolymers and materials from biomass. As a designer in this project, I was able to learn about bio-fabrication from the experts, to find creative ways of developing the materials, and experiment with their possible applications. My focus was on Algae-based biopolymers, but I also learned how to work with cellulosic bio-materials.
Algae-based bioplastic has the potential to replace single-use fossil-based packaging, which is one of the biggest plastic pollutants in our environment. That is why my experiments focused on making different films and wrappings from alginate, by altering the mixture and adjusting material properties. Later, I was able to use my biomaterials knowledge and collaborations during my internship for the development of zero-waste cosmetics and biodegradable packaging.
Raw materials.
Zein biofilm.
Biofoam.
Zero-waste shampoo marbles (123 Zero internship).
Alginate biofilm.
Mycelium
2019
Material research of mycelium biocomposites
BA graduation project and material research, ALUO
Collaboration with research institute InnoRenew CoE
This project explores the use of mycelium for the development of bio-based and biodegradable materials, which could potentially replace fossil-based materials. Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus consisting of
branching thread-like hyphae which act like “glue” and connect smaller particles of any organic substrate. When inoculated substrate grows into the desired form, heat is added to stop the growth and keep the material in its shape. The result is a mycelium biocomposite that can be returned to the soil, turning it into nutrients for the growth of new life.
In this project, I focused mainly on hands-on material research, learning directly from the mycelium in the Living Lab. I experimented with different
substrates, fungal species, and after-treatments to change the properties of the material. I also played with shaping the biocomposite by molding and
pressing, whereas 3D printing is also possible. With this project, I wanted to spark a debate and reflection among consumers about the material and social traces of everyday objects and their possible material futures.
Substrate preparation.
Inoculated substrate.
Heat pressed bio-composite.
Autoclaved bio-composite.
Paper
2019 and 2022
Various projects focusing on craft paper and discarded plants.
My interest in papermaking focuses on using this material as a medium that represents or connects us to the landscape. The bleached cellulosic paper we use in everyday life disassociates us from its original plant resource whereas craft papers carry the memory of its resource, reminding us of what and where it came from.
Through my papermaking experiments, I engaged with multiple individuals like artist Kathrine Ball, that wrote a publication about filtration plants and wanted to use paper from discarded filtration plants for her project. I also collaborated with food scientist Urša Lovše and Pulp and Paper Institute in Ljubljana to experiment with making a biodegradable food-grade film for the knotweed paper they produce. Lastly, I guided a paper-making workshop from discarded reed plants as a part of my “Unlearning Botanical Narratives” project, where we used paper as a way to better learn and connect to this versatile plant.
Pulp from discarded filtration plants.
Paper samples from tomato and other filtration plants.
Paper pulp from reeds.
Biofilm on knotweed paper packaging.
Paper making workshop next to reed plants.
Alum Crystals
2021
Refer to the project "Crystal Couture"
Tackling textile sustainability within the EU research project "REFLOW"
In collaboration with de Waag TextileLab
This material exploration is a part of the “Crystal Couture” project, where I proposed upcycling clothes with growing sustainable crystal ornaments. Alum is a mineral, a kind of salt used commonly in medicine, cosmetics, the food industry, and as a mordant. One of the most interesting properties of this material is the ability to easily and quickly grow salt crystals. The crystals are odorless, colorless soluble in hot water, and are not harmful to us or the environment. They can be recycled by dissolving them in hot water and growing them over again.
By submerging different kinds of textiles in the hot alum solution, I tried to experiment with crystal growth on the textile substrates to achieve different properties. The samples were made by preparing the solution, filtering, positioning the substrate, and monitoring the crystal growth.
Preparing Alum solution.
Monitoring crystal growth in blue solution.
Alum crystals on different textile samples.
Food Waste
2020
Personal Project
Reusing bread waste sourced from the local grocery store.
Every year, roughly one-third of all the food produced for human consumption gets wasted. Some of the most wasted food products in Europe are bread, vegetables, fruit, and dairy products. How can we use all of this food waste as an urban material stream? The idea of using old bread as a raw material came to me when I was working part-time in the local grocery store. The amount of bread that was thrown away every day even in a small store made me think if it is possible to give it a new purpose.
This food waste project offers an inexpensive solution to reuse the leftover bread on a local scale and apply it to multiple urban grocery stores dealing with bread waste. The project resulted in biodegradable food containers that can hold liquid or hard matter from thirty minutes to multiple hours depending on their making process and thickness. After their use, the containers can be eaten or thrown on the compost pile.
Bread paste preparation.
Different paste flavours.
Baked bread paste prototype.
Bread waste containers.