In this research I focussed my research around materials that either come from agricultural/food waste or are sustainable alternatives to standard building materials/approaches.
MATERIAL 1- Mogu Tiles-
(Made from the residues of agro-industrial products)
"To employ Nature’s intelligence to radically disrupt the design of everyday products, seeking a finer balance between the man-made and the rhythms of the natural ecosystem." Mogu
How is it made?
Mogu tiles are made from agro-industrial residues that come from low-value materials such as cotton, corn, rice straw, seaweed, clam shells and coffee. These are then combined to create a bio-based resin that creates a hard wearing water replant surface. The final product is then coloured with a water based, heavy-metal free bio-component, before having a layer of a flex cover and atop coat for protection.
Colours and Specification
Due to Mogu using a bio-component to colour their tiles and other products their colour range is earthy and fresh. Ranging from the soft tones of water that transition into greens from the forest and int0 tones of sand and earth. The colour palette aims to be calming and subtle to fit into any project. I particularly enjoy the way that the colours all compliment each other when placed together.
The floor tiles come in either a square (500mm x 500mm) or plank (250mm x 500mm) shape that are designed so that they can be combined and used to create a wide range of patterns and tessellation designs. By creating varied design outcomes using colour and configuration rather than the actual shape of the tile means that the tiles are more versatile. They are purposely designed as modular units and its what makes them so unique.
Installation and Properties
To install it is advised to use a solvent-free low-admission dispersion adhesive, besides this the tiles are easy to place and then grout using spacers allows for the tiles to all be equally spaces out. The tiles are waterproof and hard wearing as well as being a sustainable carbon neutral product.
MATERIAL 2- Chitin Recycled Bioplastic-
(Made by Shellworks from recycled seafood waste)
"We’re a team of scientists, engineers, and designers reimagining the future of packaging by working with nature." Shellworks
How's it Made?-
Created using waste products from shell fish in the food industry. The waste is processed and treated to extract a compound that can be used to create an eco-friendly biopolymer. This polymer can then be formed into a grid casing that is coloured using natural dyes. The polymer is water-soluble at the end of its life using hot water.
Qualities
The outcome of the product is that it is antimicrobial, flexible but durable material that when dissolved in hot water becomes a natural fertiliser lending itself to plant pots and liners. The material can also be coloured using natural dyes and colourings.
Next Steps- Shellworks links to the idea of a circular economy and is an example of using food waste to make a bio-material. I will try to create a similar product from alternative food waste as the process from seafood waste is complex and expensive so I will not be able to attempt the exact same thing myself.
MATERIAL 3- Timbercrete-
(Made by Timbercrete Specialist LTD )
How's it Made?
The following materials are combined together and then formed into blocks and are left to dry out:
- Timber waste
- Cement
- Sand
- Binders
- Non-toxic deflocculating additive
The whole concept of woodcrete is that no trees are cut down for the manufacturing process and all the main materials are recycled from wood processing factories and construction sites.
Properties
The makeup of this product is very unique in that it traps and stores carbon within the building, offsetting emissions from polluting compounds elsewhere in the project. Unlike traditional concrete materials this is a much lighter alternative with greater thermal properties than any other.
Colours and Products
Timbercrete is a versatile material that can be used and processed in multiple ways to create different building materials as well as different finishes. By adding small amounts of certain ingredients that have natural dyeing properties you can achieve a wide range of colours from green through to red.
Next Steps- I have found a biomaterial that is made of similar ingredients and produces a material that is similar to timbercrete in its properties but is made from materials easier to obtain and that I can make at home. So I will test out this method for my own project.
MATERIAL 3- Banana Fabric
This fabric is made from a combination of the left of wast from banana skins as well as the waste from the plant itself. The product doesn't require the banana plants to be killed in order to harvest the leaves and can use the skins after the inside of the banana has been consumed by humans.
The result is a very eco-friendly compostable fabric that is a low impact alternative to other textile alternatives. While the process can be labour intensive it provides work for skilled workers in other countries rather than large factories that have taken over much of the textiles industry.
Due to the fact the fabric is very porous as a result of the fibres used the fabric takes on colour very well and is a good alternative to sturdy fabrics that are normally made from chemical mixes when using dyes and pattern appliqués.
References-
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftimbercrete.wordpress.com%2Fabout%2F49-2%2F&psig=AOvVaw02YvBUBW4OHLQ39wbT3038&ust=1684075613056000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAQQjB1qFwoTCOiwh9jE8v4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
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