Bio Wipes
Client
Personal project
Year
2023
Deliverables
Material Exploration
Prototype
Market Research
Bio Wipes
Bio Wipes
The project aims to offer sustainable alternatives to traditional sponge cloth materials, minimizing the environmental impact of their microplastic by-products. To add more value I incorporated different waste materials, both organic and plastic, to leverage their properties for a better outcome. Integrating sustainability and circular design principles.
This project originated from the Supergreen module during the first year IDE master's program. This module's primary objective was to delve into the properties of materials and explore regenerative solutions that have a significant cultural impact, with sustainability at the forefront.
The regenerative aim of the module encouraged me to explore and mix different types of biomaterials. My journey became divided three different explorations, each of which had a tremendous impact and expanded my knowledge, as it was the first time I on creating materials. My first exploration mainly focused on working with mycelium; the second involved agar and glycerine; finally, the third was with a particular type of fruit mushroom.
The initial exploration focused on two specific strains: Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster) and Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), chosen for their rapid growth compared to other species. To add complexity, organic waste was used as a sustainable food source for the mycelium. Liquidambar Styraciflua tree fruiting bodies and peanut shells were selected for their nutritional value and abundance, offering a unique growth medium for the experiment.
In the second phase, I experimented with agar, sodium alginate, glycerin, spirulina, and waste materials. I created a rigid bioplastic from agar and glycerin, which was ineffective as a sponge cloth but useful as an abrasive cleaner when combined with peanut shells or orange peels. Adding nets from orange packaging stabilized the product and introduced circular design principles.
The third exploration, inspired by research on Fomes fomentarius, I explored the potential of Amadou leather, derived from mushroom fruiting bodies, as a sponge cloth alternative. This journey deepened my understanding of craft techniques and the habitat of this fungus.
The project aims to offer sustainable alternatives to traditional sponge cloth materials, minimizing the environmental impact of their microplastic by-products. To add more value I incorporated different waste materials, both organic and plastic, to leverage their properties for a better outcome. Integrating sustainability and circular design principles.
More info
The project aims to offer sustainable alternatives to traditional sponge cloth materials, minimizing the environmental impact of their microplastic by-products. To add more value I incorporated different waste materials, both organic and plastic, to leverage their properties for a better outcome. Integrating sustainability and circular design principles.
More info
The project aims to offer sustainable alternatives to traditional sponge cloth materials, minimizing the environmental impact of their microplastic by-products. To add more value I incorporated different waste materials, both organic and plastic, to leverage their properties for a better outcome. Integrating sustainability and circular design principles.
More info
