Have you ever thought about making your own materials? That’s the idea behind Materiom.  This community, which is made up of designers, scientists, engineers, and artists, has created an open source platform where they share what they call “Nature’s Recipe Book”.

This recipe site for making sustainable materials is based on the use of easily accessible natural ingredients, such as plants or algae, as well as waste products such as coffee grounds or egg or mollusc shells. All the utensils you need, like pots, cake moulds, and measuring spoons, can already be found in your kitchen.

The goal of the platform is to contribute to the circular economy and encourage us to experiment with existing recipes by, for example, adapting them to local materials from your region.  Would you try one of these recipes below?

 

Ceramics made from eggshells

These objects have been made from a material whose main ingredient is eggshells that are then mixed with calcium alginate and water.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ctHS6h6KI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

Coffee composite

 

To turn coffee grounds into a material without even having to cook them, just mix them with water, vinegar, glycerine and sodium alginate.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4QDMjHI_HS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

Carrageenan leather

Water, glycerine and carrageenan are the only ingredients you need to make this “leather” at home.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4mTtURopp4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

Animal print

A basic bioplastics recipe made with agar-agar, glycerine and water, and whose appareance can be changed by using natural dyes and pigments.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1x1qIjhmHm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The move towards digital printing

The combination of current 3D printing technology and a simple material made from mussel shells, water and sugar allows for complex designs to be made.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnt5caOnSD7/?igshid=1uiykjx17z0t1

Sawdust

These unique posts can be made using sawdust sourced from any carpenter’s workshop.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv6wHMMBy96/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link