Bio-based materials are typically
made from renewable substances
derived from biomass, for example,
mycelium (fungus composite), casein
(protein from milk) and pineapple
leather (a vegan alternative made
from pineapple leaves). This
practice-based research builds on
existing knowledge of bio-based
materials to investigate how they
can become increasingly functional
alternatives to single-use synthetic
and wood-based packaging
materials, whilst responding to local
landscapes and seasonality.
Before the Westernised age of
material consumption (Wahl, 2016)
local landscapes and their resources
were typically managed with a
longer-term basis in mind. Materials
were often traditionally made with
low impact resources and
manipulated with slow hand
techniques. This practice-based
research supports these principles
and proposes a soil-led approach for
creating design materials, whilst
assessing the properties and
potential applications of locally
sourced fibres, such as meadow
grass.
This research provides a timely
contribution to knowledge in material
traceability and proposes material
testing and prototype development
as an educational resource. This
research offers a progressive
regenerative model which utilises
foraged fibres from the North West of
England – but also proposes that this
model could be transferable for other
regions with other plant species.
Wahl, D. C. (2016) Designing
regenerative cultures. Axminster,
England: Triarchy Press.