Algae-based Materials
Algae is a seaweed that is highly abundant and has incredibly diverse forms with nearly 100,000 species. They are a crucial plant type that contribute a huge amount of oxygen to the planet and absorbs carbon dioxide. It is versatile and can grow in many environments – it is suitable as an alternative to traditional fuels and plastics because it has an incredibly high growth rate.
Harvesting
As the planet warms we will have algae bloom at a larger scale – what can we do with this material? We can harvest oil from the plant and create an alternative to petroleum based plastics. The algae used for Bloom Foam in the design of the Vivobarefoot shoe is harvested from freshwater sources at high risk of algal bloom.
Forming Methods
Polymerization process that has been used to create furniture, packaging materials, biofuel and as a food source like Nori in Japan or lettuce in parts of Europe. It can be used a pigment in dyes, and as a treatment for sewage, replacing artificial and potentially harmful chemicals. It has also been used as a fertilizer and an lternative to synthetic and petroleum based foams.
Kelly Slater collaborates with bloom foam to develop traction pads for surfboards. This custom corrugated shipping box is constructed from ecological paper made from algae that would otherwise damage fragile marine ecosystems by Seed.
Physical Properties
Can be formed into a variety of tactlessness from film-like to more flexible and durable. It can be easily dyed and also formed into cardboard for packaging.
Sustainability
Hypoallergenic - suitable for food packaging.
Biodegradable.
Algae plastic would not affect food crops. Phytoplankton, one of the basics of algae, have declined substantially in the world’s oceans over the past century. Algae bloom is a growing problem with disastrous effects on plants, humans and animals. The blooms are caused by phosphates and nitrates in chemical wastes – algae thrive on these materials. By removing the algae from marine-systems and replacing petroleum based materials we can clean up the environment and combat plastic pollution.
Resources
Class lecture 9/21/21. Introduction to Sustainable Materials. Nick Dine.
Lefteri, C. (2014). Materials for design. Laurence King.