Biodesign In Furniture: A Path to Sustainability

Zyrah Ysabelle T. Longakit
Jun 13, 2023
3 min read

You might wonder how biology can be related with design and the creation of artistic pieces. A question similar to this might arise: is it even possible to use living things in making day-to-day products? The use of plastic and other unsustainable materials are the major causes of climate change, especially global warming. Hence, new materials are being experimented to discover innovative ways to make useful yet sustainable products. In this brief article, you will learn about the basic definition of biodesign and how its use in furniture contributes to sustainability.

What do you mean by Biodesign?

This might be the first question that stemmed from your mind: What is biodesign? Biodesign is where organic materials are incorporated to the creation of products like clothing and furniture. Every artist uses a medium to bring their artistic imagination to life, with the most common ones being paint, pencils, and colored-markers. But in a biodesigner’s case, they are rather unique, for the substance they work with is life.

Biodesigners, what do they make?

Now, who are these “biodesigners”? These are the individuals committed to catalyzing the growth and usage of biodesign. They continuously try out new organic materials to incorporate in everyday products, and even in buildings. An example of biodesign is the use of mycelium, a mushroom fungus, in the creation of a chair. Its durability makes it a suitable material in furniture like these. Moreover, mycelium can also be made into leather, making it a sustainable alternative to shoes, bags, and clothing.

Due to the use of living materials like these, products like furniture enhance their primary purpose. Integrating mycelium to a chair makes it durable, thereby emphasizing its function. A mycelium chair differs astronomically from that of a wooden chair. When hardened, mycelium is fire and water resistant. Subsequently, they are usually much lighter than most wood products. Other than wood, it can also replace foams, timber, and plastics for different kinds of applications.

Now, how can mycelium turn into a chair as the frog turned into a prince? The chair is brought to life (which is composed of life) through a 3D printer, specified with a CAD software. The use of mycelium, however, isn’t limited to making chairs. If manipulated properly, it can exist in various shapes, which can produce alternatives to the styrofoam blocks placed in televisions and other electronic appliances during shipping. Styrofoam is another example of an unsustainable material, it takes 500 years to decompose, and furthermore, can’t be recycled either. According to the Earth Research Foundation, styrofoam manufacturers were the fifth largest contributor to toxic waste in 1986. Thus, replacing it with mycelium is more environmentally-friendly.

Conclusion

Overall, biodesign can revolutionize the way things are being made. Instead of using unsustainable materials like plastic and styrofoam, organic materials promote the creation of innovative products that support our planet’s sustainable development. Not only that, it also helps us to appreciate the beauty of nature and the life it harbors. It can then be concluded that the art of life truly holds a significance in what the future will hold.