Commercial enterprises and academia are constantly researching and developing new bio-based materials and recycled plastics suitable to replace virgin fossil plastics in consumer goods. Keeping abreast of this research is challenging. It becomes both challenging and frustrating if you are trying to identify what materials are actually available in commercial quantities in your area.
Addressing this challenge several databases are being developed to help designers (and other creatives) identify suitable materials that have progressed beyond the laboratory.
Plastic-free is the most comprehensive and directly relevant database currently available. In addition to a comprehensive database of materials suitable as alternatives to plastics, there are also details of innovative designers and their projects to date. You can watch a video demo of what’s on offer here. The inspiration section gives real-life case studies of recent innovations that have succeeded in avoiding the use of virgin fossil plastics. The materials section is keyword searchable so you can check on what specific brands are doing or look for a particular category of materials. For each material, there is extensive information about where it comes from, how it is made, how it has been used, its end-of-life prospects, and its current availability. There is also extensive coverage of what is happening in the efforts to reduce our use of plastics from legislation to the latest research findings. The only catch is that the database is not free to use, requiring a subscription, starting from £16.67 per month for 3 users.
If you can’t justify that kind of investment there are some free resources that can offer some help:
Biomaterials Library offers a free database of ecological and environmentally friendly biomaterials. While the database is free to explore less than 100 materials are currently featured and no search tools are provided. Visitors to the site review images of the materials and click on those of interest to access further information about the material. As the focus is on biomaterials in general not all the materials featured are suitable as replacements for plastics. This Lithuanian-based project is also establishing a materials library to encourage designers and artists to experience the biomaterials available firsthand.
Future Materials Bank has about 500 products listed with a focus on ‘materials that support the transition towards a more sustainable artistic practice.’ Not all the materials featured are suitable alternatives to plastics but you can filter by qualities to explore 85 materials listed as bioplastics or 44 identified as polymers and 153 as recycled. While the database claims to ‘promotes the transition towards ecologically conscious art and design practices’ it is primarily aimed at artists and craft practitioners. This Netherlands-based project also offers a materials lab with plans to investigate the material with research reports to be added to the database.
This is a readily evolving area and designers need more tools to help them keep abreast of developments in the market. If you know of other databases or resources please send me a note so I can add them to the list.
See also:
Do bioplastics compete with agriculture?
Are bio-based materials really biodegradable?
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