Back Back to home

E6PR

Compostable six-pack can ring – The E6PR is a six-pack ring that replaces the conventional plastic rings on can multipacks. The ring, made from by-product waste and other compostable materials, decomposes within a few days or weeks, depending on its environment. The start-up was created by the merger of several companies that want to put an end to environmental[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab 46PackRings E6PR

Edible Seaweed Packaging

Biodegradable plastic – Indonesian researchers Dr. Noryawati Mulyno and David Christian developed Edible Seaweed Packaging, which consists of seaweed. In its homeland, 90% of plastic waste is disposed of in the ocean and at the same time it has a large supply of algae. They founded the company Evoware to produce a plastic-free alternative from marine plants.[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab EdibleSeaweedPackaging Evoware Noryawati Mulyno

Smart Materials – Bioplastics

Bioplastic from food scraps – The “Smart Materials” research team at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Genoa uses food scraps to make a bioplastic. To do this, they studied plant waste products such as cocoa pod shells, rice husks, and vegetables that were pulverized for use in vegetable drinks and colored pasta. Depending on the properties of the[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab SmartMaterials EdibleVegetableWasteBioplastics Alumni

Chitosan Bioplastics

Material made from shrimp chitin – The biodegradable material Chitosan Bioplastics was developed as a research project by industrial designers Paul Kheem and Ronny Haberer during their studies at New York’s Pratt Institute. In order to reduce global marine pollution, they are using the chitin found in shrimp shells to develop a plastic alternative. By acetylating the biopolymer, chitosan is[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab ChitosanBioplastics PaulKheem

Vivomer

Compostable bioplastics produced with microorganisms – Shellworks produces Vivomer, a sustainable bioplastic made from microorganisms found in the sea or soil. Four designers, Ed Jones, Insiya Jafferjee, Amir Afshar and Andrew Edwards from the Royal College of Art and Imperial College, have developed the nature-based monomaterial. As a bio-based polymer, the PHA is 100% vegan and free from microplastics, while[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab TheShellWorks EdJones InsiyaJafferjee AmirAfshar AndrewEdwards

Tômtex

Material from chitin and coffee grounds – Tômtex makes vegan leather from seafood waste and used coffee grounds. Seafood shells contain a large amount of chitin, which promotes biodegradability of the material. After preparation, the raw materials are refined with a layer of beeswax. Sealing ensures the water resistance of the material and allows individual surface texture. This allows design patterns[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab Bayonix Stefan Hunger

Gone

Compostable disposable packaging – Industrial designer Lizzie Wright developed the Gone concept in response to the environmental impact of sporting events. She was looking for a solution that would replace the plastic packaging of energy gels while being biodegradable. After consumption, athletes can throw Gone onto the street or into nature without contaminating it. The material, which consists[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab Gone Lizzi Wright MILK-MaterialLab-Gone-Lizzi-Wright-9

Biotrem

Wheat bran disposable tableware – Growing up in a family that had been running a mill for decades, Jerzy Wysocki decided to put the leftover product of the grain milling process, wheat bran, to good use. He developed a natural material from the seed husk and a small amount of water, which is suitable for use as disposable tableware[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab Biotrem Geschirr aus Weizenkleie MILK-MaterialLab-Biotrem-Geschirr-aus-Weizenkleie-6

Changhua

Loofah bottle packaging – During a stay in Taiwan, designer Dorian Etienne developed a bottle packaging made from a regional product, the pumpkin plant “loofah”. The natural fibers obtained from them multiply quickly and have high durability. Since the spongy pumpkin has shock-absorbing properties, the material is particularly suitable for transport packaging. Thanks to the loofah material, the[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab Changhua Dorian Etienne

Scoby Packaging

Packaging from organic waste – MakeGrowLab’s woven biowaste packaging is made entirely of cellulose, making it free of toxic pollutants, synthetic polylactides and fossil fuels. Scoby is 40 times more durable than paper and is compostable and plastic-free due to its natural ingredients. Thanks to its airtightness and water resistance, Scoby has already been able to encase shampoos, soaps,[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab ScobyPackaging MakeGrowLab MILK-MaterialLab-ScobyPackaging-MakeGrowLab-10

MarinaTex

Innovative packaging substance from fish waste and red algae – Product design student Lucy Huges ‘ project at the University of Sussex involves developing a new type of packaging solution that is sustainable and biodegradable. Over 100 experiments required the material called MarinaTex, which consists of the agar of red algae and the proteins of fish waste. The natural raw materials of the oceans[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab Marinatex Folie MILK-MaterialLab-Marinatex-Folie-2

KAIKU Living Color

Colors from food bowls – KAIKU Living Color is a sustainable alternative to conventional paints made from petroleum. Using food trays from vegetables that have already been eaten offers a chemical- and toxin-free option for coloring materials. For the preparation of living colors are particularly suitable avocados, beet, onions and oranges. These are boiled so that first the juice[...]

Learn more

MILK MaterialLab Kaiku Living Color MILK-MaterialLab-Kaiku-Living-Color-5