Iceland – Designer Ari Jónsson has created a prototype for a biodegradable bottle made from red algae powder.
Jónsson, who studies at the Iceland Academy of the Arts, presented the bottle at this year’s Reykjavik design festival DesignMarch, in response to the growing issue of waste plastic.
It is estimated that as much as 8m tonnes of plastic enters the world’s oceans each year, a fact Jónsson hopes can one day be redressed through innovative design solutions.
When red algae powder is added to water, the resulting jelly-like material is strong enough to be used as a container. Once it has been emptied of liquid, the bottle immediately begins to lose its shape and decompose – a useful feature that enables it to be discarded without damaging the environment.
Enormous amounts of waste plastic is one of the greatest problems of modern society. Consumers and brands alike are beginning to view this waste as an opportunity. To find out more, read our Whole-system Thinking macrotrend.