Using existing processes to create and invent a sustainable material.
KANKSHA PATEL | PRODUCT DESIGN | CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN
Experimenting with food to obtain sustainable material using various processes like grinding, boiling, crushing and roasting.
Final Material : Onion Skins
Properties
Dry and brittle Transcluscent Rich in colour Good texture Good to touch and hold Extremely lightweight Gives out foul odour Can be preserved
Uses
As a natural dye giving beautiful red colour Can be preserved to be used in craft
More than 500,000 tonnes of onion waste is thrown away in the European Union each year. With the increase in onion prices, it is only necessary to make as much use of the root as is possible.
Experimentations with final material chosen : Onion peels
Recipe for new sustainable material : Soaking the onion peels in a mixture of glycerin and water gives them a leathery texture. It preserves the peels by helping them retain moisture for 6 - 10 months.
1 unit water
+
1/5th unit glycerin
Soak for 1 week
Experiments with different techniques of using / combining peels.
Development of final design