Two Sides of Sustainability #2

Did you enjoy Part 1 of <The Two Sides of Sustainability>? We explored materials through two main themes: natural and recycled. Even within these categories, we saw how materials branch out, sometimes meeting at common points, intertwining, and expanding as we go along. It almost feels like we could connect all materials on Earth in one big map! Would you like to draw it with me? 😆

In this issue, we will be diving into {plant & fungi}, {seaweed}, and {plastic} through both natural and recycled lenses. If you’re curious about the other materials like wood, paper, clay, and fabric, be sure to check out the first part of Two Sides of Sustainability #1! You can also explore specific examples via the linked MixTape!

❋ Mixtape is an exclusive online content series from Conc. Enjoy it with a Conc Master subscription! 🍄

Chapter 5. Plants & Fungi

Mushrooms and hemp have long been key players in the world of sustainable materials, and this year, we saw a growing recognition of their architectural potential. Mycelium is extending its reach to space architecture, while hemp is making waves as a sustainable material for insulation and sound absorption. On another front, Swiss designer Paula presented a mask pack made from hemp and hay fibers, showing new eco-friendly alternatives for beauty products.

Persimmon leather, developed as a plant-based coating, has opened up new doors in the vegan leather market. This year, it obtained ECOCERT (an international eco-certification), and is now preparing for a full-fledged international debut. Given that coating has been a major challenge for vegan leather, persimmon leather could very well become the solution to the next generation of alternative leathers.

Natural: Organic Materials Benefiting the Earth

1. Mycelium

   [Study] Mycelium | Space Design with Mycelium

2. Hemp

   Hempcrete Homes, Jimmune Architecture | Sound-Absorbing Plaster for a Complete Spatial Experience

3. Loofah and Jute

   Loofah Pavilion | Crop-based Exhibits | Jute Dyeing from the Beaches of Jeolla Province

4. Persimmon Leather

   Coated Vegan Leather!

Recycled: Repurposing Fallen Leaves

1. Mask Pack Made from Plant Waste, Paula

   Dry Mask Packs Made from Natural Materials like Hay and Hemp

2. Wallpaper Made from Flower Petals and Hay

   Austrian Nature-Inspired Materials, Organoids

3. Resin Panels with Tea Leaves

   Pine and Tea Leaves, About Matter

4. Recycled Fruit Leather

   Mango Leather Made from Mango Pulp | Now Even Leather Made from Tree Leaves!

Chapter 6. Seaweed

Among natural resources, seaweed has shown the most growth. With alginates and agar standing out as major raw materials, there’s also a growing interest in utilizing marine life components like chitin from crustaceans or protein adhesives from mussels to develop bio-materials. At Milan Design Week earlier this year, designer Choi Soo-yang presented an exhibition featuring Algatex, showcasing the form-giving potential of agar while also proving its durability.

Even discarded oyster shells are being turned into powder, which many artists are now using for sculpture. In Korea, Weekend Lab introduced construction tiles made from oyster shells this year. There are even experiments underway to replace traditional concrete materials with marine life shells. The development of shell-based materials has only just begun.

Natural: Growing Marine Life

1. Seaweed Board

   Homes Built with Seaweed

2. Alginate and Agar

   The Sculptural Potential of Seaweed, Designer Choi Soo-yang | Combining seaweed with mulberry fibers, VORTEX | 3rd Generation Biomass, Seaweed

Recycled: Eating Seafood, Eating Jelly, Then...

1. Shell Powder from Oyster Shells

   Finding the Abandoned Oysters

2. Mother-of-Pearl

   The Gifts from the Sea in Gyeongsang, Tongyeong’s Najeon Chilgi and Green Oceans | Modern Furniture Connecting Tradition (feat. Mother-of-Pearl)

3. Pulp Packaging Made from Agar Residue

   Pulp Packaging Made from Recycled Materials

Chapter 7. Plastic

Plastic continues to be a central topic in discussions about sustainability. Recycled plastic sheets are now showing not only the value of recycling, but also exceptional levels of design. With various patterns and added strength, these sheets are now ready to decorate both interiors and exteriors. The Dutch company Pretty Plastic, who first developed recycled plastic exterior cladding, gained attention this year with its collaboration on MVRDV’s office building project. As recycled plastic sheets solidify their place in design, research is also accelerating to solve the fundamental issues of plastic waste through bio-plastics.

One of the most promising materials is biopolymers, particularly cellulose. Bacterial cellulose leather is emerging as a bio-textile, and research into alternative plastics through microbial fermentation and genetic modification is in full swing. Some researchers are even experimenting with converting plastic waste into food, making the future of plastic waste even more intriguing.

Natural: Bio Materials from Biopolymers

1. Acetate, Cellulose

   Non-Allergenic Plastic, Acetate | Lip Balm Case Made from Acetate

2. PHA, Microorganisms

   Returning to the Earth (feat. Biodegradable Filament)

3. Starch Pellets, Protein and Carbohydrates

   Natural Polymer Pellets

Recycled: Reusing Plastic Waste

1. Recycled Plastic Sheets

   Works with Recycled Plastic Sheets by 10 Artists (2022 Seoul Design Festival) | Want to Use Recycled Plastic Sheets in Korea?

2. 3D Printing with Recycled PLA

   [Study] The Relationship Between 3D Printing and Sustainability | 3D Printing Using Recycled Plastic