Material

Salsify

By

Made in

Biodegradable 235 Bioplastic 78 Bioresin 21 Circular 219 Glue 10 Plant-based 171 Vegan 89 Dandelion 2

Salsify

Photos: Nicole Marnati, Filippo Tittarelli

Plastic Culture

Social Designer Marco Federico Cagnoni explores the synergy between human and nature, criticising the global abuse of toxic substances originating from chemical synthesis and their relative environmental implication.

Through a multidisciplinary collaboration with Han Wösten chairman of the Microbiology department at Utrecht University and Gerard Van Buiten director of Utrecht Botanical Garden, he developed a novel bioplastic material extracted from the latex of well-known Dutch vegetables and plants: Schorseneren (Salsify) and Paardenbloem (Dandelion).

Latex is a natural polymer produced by over 12,500 plant species. Marco Cagnoni narrowed this group down to two species that are ideal for making bioplastic. Flexible and long-lasting, this material can replace most synthetic polymers. The plants are also highly nutritious. Rice, potatoes, corn, cassava and sugarcane are the most common sources of current bioplastics. However, with a rapidly expanding global population, turning carbohydrates into plastic is not logical or ethical. Why waste food on bioplastic when you can make bioplastic and food from one plant?

Information submitted by the maker and edited by the Future Materials Bank.

Ingredients

Salsify, Dandelion

Credits

BioInspired Innovation department of Utrecht University, Utrecht Botanical Research Centre, Microbiology laboratory at Utrecht University

Physical samples

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Accessible to participants at the Jan van Eyck Academie and public openings of the Future Materials Lab.