In Italy, students with the Materials Design for Transition group within the design department of Politecnico di Milano has created a number of biobased innovations that “[foster] cultural shifts around materiality.” The materials were submitted as part of a design competition cosponsored by design publication dezeen.
Examples of entrants include Giacomo Frova and Taila Sacco, who have developed a lightweight and flexible material from chicken feathers.
Nicolas Muro and Pietro Chillè created lamps out of seafood shells and cozze shells, which are rich in calcium carbonate, while Nathalie Dalle Molle and Laìs Kantor entered Beenut, a material made from peanut shell waste collected from a Five Guys location in Milan. This “durable, impact-resistant and sensory-friendly biodegradable composite” was then used to make Peanut City, a board game that teaches kids about urban sustainability.
Justine Pereira, Magdalena Dembska, Mariia Pokataeva and Zoe Noble created Pitagram, a puzzle game made from an olive pit and gelatin material.
Cai Yuying, Liu Yu, Wang Yuhao, Wu Jingning, Cao Jinyi, Wei Xiayu, Deng Jingyuan and Zhang Zikun made toy terracotta warrior figurines from sugarcane bagasse, while Haorui He, Ziyang Zhang, Chenming Zhang, Shumeng Yang, Youyou Yu and Jie Gong made beach toys from invasive algae.
Carola Castiglione and Francesca Ercolini combined discarded cotton and polyester with gelatin and glycerin to create a composite suitable for press on nails.