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The design world is undergoing a transformative shift, with a growing emphasis on sustainability and the exploration of innovative, eco-friendly materials. Designers are increasingly looking beyond traditional resources and turning to the natural world for inspiration, utilizing bio-based materials derived from plants, fungi, and even food waste to create beautiful and functional interior objects. This article showcases three remarkable projects that exemplify this exciting trend, presenting a diverse range of bio-based interior items that demonstrate the potential of a more sustainable and circular design future.

Designed by Danielle Trofe and Lujah Brown, MushLume lighting collection champions eco-friendliness by utilizing mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, as a sustainable alternative to conventional materials like metal, plastic, and glass. This innovative approach avoids the environmental drawbacks of typical manufacturing processes, offering a renewable and biodegradable solution. The lampshades are grown rather than manufactured.

MushLume’s process involves cultivating mycelium within a hemp substrate, which then solidifies within a mold to form the desired lamp shape. This method efficiently transforms the mycelium into a lightweight yet robust material, ready to take any shape the designers envision. The innovative process avoids water and energy, making the products even more sustainable.

The resulting lamps are not only eco-friendly but also biodegradable, allowing for a return to the earth at the end of their lifespan. Beyond their sustainability, MushLume lamps boast a unique aesthetic.

The raw, textured surfaces resemble concrete yet retain a lightweight feel, and the texture is unique for every lamp. This distinctive texture and pattern contributes to the diffused, warm glow that these eco-friendly lights provide, showcasing the potential of bio-based materials to create both beautiful and sustainable products.

Even seemingly innocuous materials like biodegradable substances can contribute to environmental concerns if not handled properly. Food waste, including commonly discarded items like eggshells, often presents a challenge due to its volume and limited reusability options. Recognizing this potential for repurposing, designers Zumra Yagmur Cetinler and Damla Ertem have crafted a unique collection of accessories and vessels, ingeniously transforming eggshells into strikingly organic forms.

Burn’tShell cleverly addresses the issue of eggshell waste by giving these often-overlooked remnants a new purpose. While eggshells are biodegradable and suitable for composting, their underutilization in widespread food production and everyday kitchens presents a challenge. Burn’tShell seeks to mitigate the negative environmental impact of eggshell disposal by showcasing their potential as a valuable component in sustainable design.

The Burn’tShell collection utilizes a combination of sustainable materials. Eggshells serve as a key ingredient for the bottom components, while tapioca starch forms the shell, enhancing both form and stability. The pieces are self-forming, with the shape of each item arising from the inherent properties of the materials and the production process.

The resulting vases and lamps feature earthy color palettes. The light brown hues, punctuated by patches of white, evoke a natural aesthetic. The unconventional, curvy shapes of these vessels add to their organic character, transforming them into eye-catching centerpieces that inspire conversation and highlight the innovative use of food waste in design.

suMphat Gallery in Bangkok joined forces with researchers from leading Thai universities including Khon Kaen University, Mahidol University, and Chulalongkorn University, to address the waste generated by the mango processing industry. The result is a remarkable project named Second Life, which champions a circular economy by transforming agricultural waste into valuable resources. This innovative initiative highlights the potential of bio-based materials to create sustainable design solutions while adding value to discarded mangoes.

Extensive research and development led to the creation of a novel material known as mango bio-leather. By harnessing mango pulps and the power of bacteria, the team developed a material that captures the fruit’s distinctive characteristics without relying on polymer additives. This innovative approach allowed the designers to retain the natural qualities of the mango while creating a durable and aesthetically pleasing alternative to conventional leather.

Second Life has materialized in the form of organic homewares and accessories, showcasing the versatile applications of mango bio-leather. The product range includes bio-based mango leatherwear and cooling trays, each demonstrating the material’s ability to be shaped and crafted into functional and stylish objects.