Bio-Fold
How can we develop more sustainable furniture fabrication, using already existing everyday objects?
Agricultural production disposes of great amounts of waste, in the form of vegetal fibers. On a global scale, these natural by-products show significant promise for the production of biodegradable composite materials, or simply biocomposites. Biocomposites are formed by mixing vegetal fibers with a natural binder — such as plant-based resin or bicarbonates — and compressing the material into a solid form. As a material, they are renewable, cheap, biodegradable, and in many cases completely recyclable. Specifically, Bio-Fold is a method for homegrown circular fabrication. It allows anyone to grow, cast and shape their own furniture from waste, and then fully recycle it after use. The key elements are a clever use of a reusable plastic bag — IKEA’s versatile FRAKTA bag — to create a mold for casting biocomposite materials, and parametric design thinking. In this way, the creators aim to democratize sustainable furniture fabrication and empower anyone to grow their own furniture.