The objective of basic bio-based materials is to discover alternative practices and techniques that can be employed repeatedly without affecting environment in a harmful way.
Such materials can be used by anyone for the common good, without necessarily serving private benefit. The material itself becomes a tool for practical applications to various challenges. This hands-on approach not only sparks creativity but also fosters a sense of self-sufficiency, empowering people to find their own solutions.
I started experimenting with materials because popular standard plain materials were limiting my ability to create different shapes and potential design solutions. This resulted from the manufacturing constraints when making limited edition products. These factors pushed me to experiment with materials to find something cheap, resource-efficient, and easily moldable that I could literally sculpt from.
The important thing was using local materials to make it appropriate technology (small-scale and affordable by locals).
Fibers are often used as reinforcement in composite materials. They provide a high level of structural integrity that allows the material to be both thin and durable. The hemp and the flax are among the strongest plant fibers that can be found in Ukraine.
The most challenging part was to find glue that was 100% biodegradable, thereby having minimal impact on the environment upon disposal of the product. In order to find glue with the best adhesive properties, I experimented with dextrin, gelatin (protein) glue, and starch-based glues. I ended up choosing the cellulose-based one. However, the cellulose for the glue must come from byproducts of the wood industry, wheat straw, recycled paper, or cotton-based waste textiles.
LINEN ZHIZHA
• durable and pressure-resistant
• hypoallergenic and antibacterial properties
• 8 times more durable than cotton, more durable than wool
• high heat-insulating material, UV-protector
• partially reduces electromagnetic radiation
• does not accumulate static electricity and dust
• biodegradable, sustainable
• doesn’t ignite under high heat but will burn in an open flame, and the burning stops as soon as it is removed from the fire
While we can’t control what customers will do with a product at the end of its life cycle, we can simplify the disposal process by making the product compostable from the start. Another important aspect is to ensure the product is of high quality, so it lasts as long as possible and meets customers' high standards.
The use of alternative materials also helps to:
• reduce costs
• increase cost-effectiveness
• spur innovation
• increase design flexibility
• reduce environmental impact
• facilitate recycling and end-of-life management
The use of alternative materials could potentially create new job opportunities in rural communities. However, it is less likely will improve growers' quality of life, if farming and trade conditions remain the same (Bismarck et al., 2012).
1. Bismarck, A., Baltazar-Y-Jimenez, A. and Sarikakis, K., 2006. Green composites as panacea? Socio-economic aspects of green materials. Environment, development and sustainability, 8, pp.445-463.
2. Kostic, M., Pejic, B. and Skundric, P., 2008. Quality of chemically modified hemp fibers. Bioresource Technology, 99(1), pp.94-99.
3. Shahzad, A., 2012. Hemp fiber and its composites – a review. Journal of Composite Materials. 46(8):973-986. doi:10.1177/0021998311413623
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