Cook your own bioplastic by Violette Arnaud

Cook your own

BIOPLASTIC

By Violette Arnaud Concordia University, 2022.

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Table of content

About the concept............ 7 Basic recipe........................ 9 Autumn recipes.................. 12 Winter recipes.................... 18 Spring recipes.................... 24 Summer recipes................. 30 References......................... 34

WHAT ARE BIOPLASTICS? « A type of biodegradable plastic derived from biological substances rather than from petroleum » (Oxford Languages)

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About the concept I started working with bioplastics in the context of an explorative research project around alternatives to plastics using waste and compost (in collaboration with Concordia student Claire Duby-Riou).

The objective was to develop a series of multiple bioplastics sheets sample that served as a bibliography and point of departure for making assembled pieces. This exploration aimed to show an alternative to textiles and plastics, as a response to the series of ecological problems due to the production and consumption of plastic.

Our research and samples were presented to the public to show the different possibilities of bioplastic during an exhibition organized by Concordia University.

This book aims to introduce you to the use of bioplastics through different ornaments. The book focuses on compost that will be added to a basic recipe of bioplastic.

The goal is to change the global relationship that we tend to have with waste. Indeed, waste is often associated with disgust, uselessness and rot. However, you will discover through this book and recipes how daily compost can be re purposed.

The incorporation of compost to the bioplastic allows two main modifications: color and texture. Some edibles are natural dyers. For example, berries can allow you to create a great natural color you can use for dying textiles or bioplastics. By using compost, you can also change the texture of the bioplastics. Indeed, you can make it more hard, soft, granulated…

This book focuses on 4 seasons to classify the compost. This allows to highlight a specific element from your daily waste, according to the time of the year.

The recipes are all kids friendly! They also allow lots of creativity.

Basic recipe of bioplastics

INGREDIENTS - 48 g porc gelatine (no sugar) - 1 tablespoon of glycerol - 240 ml of water Optional - 2 drops of tea tree

1) Mix the water (or the natural dye) and the glycerol in a pan, and place it to medium heat.

2) Add the gelatine and mix with a wooden spoon. After a minute, lower the heat to low. Keep stiring for 5 minutes until everything is melted.

3) Pour the mixture into the chosen molds.

4) Let dry for 24h and remove from mold. It can take a few days to fully dry.

AUTUMN The chosen compost element for autumn is avocado (pits and skin). The pits and skin can both be used for natural coloring, and texture. Each recipe will focus on 1)the skin, 2)the pits. Here, we will cook earrings and a jewels container.

Avocado skin earrings

To create those earrings, you will need the skin of only one avocado.

TIPS:

You can create a natural dye from avocado First of all, wash the skin with cold water peels by letting them sink into boiling water. (indeed, hit water will soften the peel too much). Then, cut the peels into simetrical Then, you can replace the water of the bioshapes (any kind that you want). Here, I have plastics recipe with this natural dye. created a very smple shape by assembling a rectangle and a square. (You can link any You will obtain a brown color, that canbe shapes with the mixture of the bioplastic). used for those earrings, or for any other project you want to create!

Place the cut shapes of the peel into a container, such as a big yogurt cap, if it fits.

Then, cook the basic bioplastic recipe presented at the beginning of this book. When the mixture is done, cover your peels with it and let dry at least 24h.

Finally, stick the top f each earring with a needle and a thread. Secure the thread to the earring loop. Let dry 24h...and voila!

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Avocado dye containers

To create those earrings, you will need the skin of only one avocado.

TIPS:

You can create a natural dye from avocado First of all, wash the skin with cold water peels by letting them sink into boiling water. (indeed, hit water will soften the peel too much). Then, cut the peels into simetrical Then, you can replace the water of the bioshapes (any kind that you want). Here, I have plastics recipe with this natural dye. created a very smple shape by assembling a rectangle and a square. (You can link any You will obtain a brown color, that canbe shapes with the mixture of the bioplastic). used for those earrings, or for any other project you want to create!

Place the cut shapes of the peel into a container, such as a big yogurt cap, if it fits.

Then, cook the basic bioplastic recipe presented at the beginning of this book. When the mixture is done, cover your peels with it and let dry at least 24h.

Finally, stick the top f each earring with a needle and a thread. Secure the thread to the earring loop. Let dry 24h...and voila!

WINTER The chosen compost element for winter recipes is are orange peels. They do not create natural dyes in water, but can be used for texture. Here, we will cook table ornaments and a box.

Orange peel decoration

To create those earrings, you will need the skin of only one avocado.

TIPS:

You can create a natural dye from avocado First of all, wash the skin with cold water peels by letting them sink into boiling water. (indeed, hit water will soften the peel too much). Then, cut the peels into simetrical Then, you can replace the water of the bioshapes (any kind that you want). Here, I have plastics recipe with this natural dye. created a very smple shape by assembling a rectangle and a square. (You can link any You will obtain a brown color, that canbe shapes with the mixture of the bioplastic). used for those earrings, or for any other project you want to create!

Place the cut shapes of the peel into a container, such as a big yogurt cap, if it fits.

Then, cook the basic bioplastic recipe presented at the beginning of this book. When the mixture is done, cover your peels with it and let dry at least 24h.

Finally, stick the top f each earring with a needle and a thread. Secure the thread to the earring loop. Let dry 24h...and voila!

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Orange peel glass circle

To create those earrings, you will need the skin of only one avocado.

TIPS:

You can create a natural dye from avocado First of all, wash the skin with cold water peels by letting them sink into boiling water. (indeed, hit water will soften the peel too much). Then, cut the peels into simetrical Then, you can replace the water of the bioshapes (any kind that you want). Here, I have plastics recipe with this natural dye. created a very smple shape by assembling a rectangle and a square. (You can link any You will obtain a brown color, that canbe shapes with the mixture of the bioplastic). used for those earrings, or for any other project you want to create!

Place the cut shapes of the peel into a container, such as a big yogurt cap, if it fits.

Then, cook the basic bioplastic recipe presented at the beginning of this book. When the mixture is done, cover your peels with it and let dry at least 24h.

Finally, stick the top f each earring with a needle and a thread. Secure the thread to the earring loop. Let dry 24h...and voila!

SPRING The chosen compost element for spring are berries. Berries are great for bright natural dying. In this chapter we will be working on earrings and wall decorations.

Blueberry earrings

To create those earrings, you will need the skin of only one avocado.

TIPS:

You can create a natural dye from avocado First of all, wash the skin with cold water peels by letting them sink into boiling water. (indeed, hit water will soften the peel too much). Then, cut the peels into simetrical Then, you can replace the water of the bioshapes (any kind that you want). Here, I have plastics recipe with this natural dye. created a very smple shape by assembling a rectangle and a square. (You can link any You will obtain a brown color, that canbe shapes with the mixture of the bioplastic). used for those earrings, or for any other project you want to create!

Place the cut shapes of the peel into a container, such as a big yogurt cap, if it fits.

Then, cook the basic bioplastic recipe presented at the beginning of this book. When the mixture is done, cover your peels with it and let dry at least 24h.

Finally, stick the top f each earring with a needle and a thread. Secure the thread to the earring loop. Let dry 24h...and voila!

Blueberry wall decoration

To create those earrings, you will need the skin of only one avocado.

TIPS:

You can create a natural dye from avocado First of all, wash the skin with cold water peels by letting them sink into boiling water. (indeed, hit water will soften the peel too much). Then, cut the peels into simetrical Then, you can replace the water of the bioshapes (any kind that you want). Here, I have plastics recipe with this natural dye. created a very smple shape by assembling a rectangle and a square. (You can link any You will obtain a brown color, that canbe shapes with the mixture of the bioplastic). used for those earrings, or for any other project you want to create!

Place the cut shapes of the peel into a container, such as a big yogurt cap, if it fits.

Then, cook the basic bioplastic recipe presented at the beginning of this book. When the mixture is done, cover your peels with it and let dry at least 24h.

Finally, stick the top f each earring with a needle and a thread. Secure the thread to the earring loop. Let dry 24h...and voila!

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SUMMER The chosen compost element for summer are eggshells. They do not create any natural color, but can be use to add texture and resistance to the bioplastic. Here, we will cook an eggshell plate and a dry vase.

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Eggsheel dry vase

To create those earrings, you will need the skin of only one avocado.

TIPS:

You can create a natural dye from avocado First of all, wash the skin with cold water peels by letting them sink into boiling water. (indeed, hit water will soften the peel too much). Then, cut the peels into simetrical Then, you can replace the water of the bioshapes (any kind that you want). Here, I have plastics recipe with this natural dye. created a very smple shape by assembling a rectangle and a square. (You can link any You will obtain a brown color, that canbe shapes with the mixture of the bioplastic). used for those earrings, or for any other project you want to create!

Place the cut shapes of the peel into a container, such as a big yogurt cap, if it fits.

Then, cook the basic bioplastic recipe presented at the beginning of this book. When the mixture is done, cover your peels with it and let dry at least 24h.

Finally, stick the top f each earring with a needle and a thread. Secure the thread to the earring loop. Let dry 24h...and voila!

Eggshell picnic plate

To create those earrings, you will need the skin of only one avocado.

TIPS:

You can create a natural dye from avocado First of all, wash the skin with cold water peels by letting them sink into boiling water. (indeed, hit water will soften the peel too much). Then, cut the peels into simetrical Then, you can replace the water of the bioshapes (any kind that you want). Here, I have plastics recipe with this natural dye. created a very smple shape by assembling a rectangle and a square. (You can link any You will obtain a brown color, that canbe shapes with the mixture of the bioplastic). used for those earrings, or for any other project you want to create!

Place the cut shapes of the peel into a container, such as a big yogurt cap, if it fits.

Then, cook the basic bioplastic recipe presented at the beginning of this book. When the mixture is done, cover your peels with it and let dry at least 24h.

Finally, stick the top f each earring with a needle and a thread. Secure the thread to the earring loop. Let dry 24h...and voila!

Suzanne Lee, CEO of Biofabricate.

References

Alispn Lewis book: Switch-craft Bioplastic cookcook by Margaret Dunne for Fabtextiles CHEMarts cookbook Aalto University ...to be continued

Hey there! Here is a list of artists and projects I recomand you to check if you are interested in knowing further about bioplastics.

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THANKS!

Images links

UNSPLASH: Avocados: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1573566291259-fd494a326b60?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=337&q=80 Oranges: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1563822249510-04678c78df85?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=387&q=80 Eggs: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1639194335563-d56b83f0060c?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=327&q=80 Blueberries: https://unsplash.com/photos/TdDtTu2rv4s

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