(David Stjernholm/CASACOR)
Six Swedish design studios have produced items and materials from industrial waste, including pedestals made from ash and flower pots made from apple waste, for the Metabolic Processes for Leftover exhibition in Malmö, Sweden, curated by Kiosk Studio , Copenhagen. Among the participants was Henriksson & Lindgren, who worked with Kiviks Musteri, best known for producing cider and fruit wine.
(David Stjernholm/CASACOR)
"We chose Kiviks Musteri because they stood out from the crowd, as their waste was all organic and we saw this as an exciting challenge to work with," Henriksson & Lindgren told Dezeen. The result is a collection of flower pots and plant clips made with the sludge left over from the company's juice press.
(David Stjernholm/CASACOR)
Henriksson & Lindgren worked with two companies in Sweden to develop a bioplastic from sludge. “The idea is that the pots and paperclips can be used multiple times and composted if they break. If a paperclip accidentally falls off a plant, it can be recycled.” and disappear, there is no harm in it,” said the design duo.
(David Stjernholm/CASACOR)
Designer Kajsa Willner collaborated with pulp and paper materials company Stora Enso to transform biofuel ash from its production process into a series of pedestals with shapes informed by history. "In addressing many of today's challenges, I believe that a An important key may be to look back in history for solutions. Starting with the Egyptian pyramids, through the temples of Greece and later the Romans who produced Roman concrete from volcanic ash, I have found contemporary research on geopolymer, often based on coal ash." Willner told Dezeen . " (David Stjernholm/CASACOR)
(David Stjernholm/CASACOR)
According to the designer, with the right mix, geopolymer concrete is stronger, more environmentally friendly and has a smaller carbon footprint than concrete made with Portland cement, the most common type of cement. "I wanted to create massive cast objects, to really demonstrate the potential of the material and that it can replace Portland cement in many applications," Willner said. (David Stjernholm/CASACOR)
Also on display at the exhibition are Carl-Ludvig Svensson, who teamed up with Vida to create a new material from mycelium and sawdust, and Louise Hederström, who made a concrete bench and traffic barrier from Finja Prefab waste. M&E turned Movomech’s waste into a material that can be used for tabletops or room dividers, while Lab La Bla and Natural Material Studio worked with Ballingslöv to create veneers and shelves made from hardwood and ash. (David Stjernholm/CASACOR)
Two materials research centers are also currently under development in southern Sweden, the European Spallation Source (ESS) facility and the MAX IV Laboratory, which Johanna Sjögren Duthy, head of exhibitions at the Form Design Center, said gives this part from Sweden a new identity at the forefront of materials science. “Given the climate change challenges we face, we are confident that this sustainable field of design will develop, moving from a more artisanal production to a commercial environment where it can make a difference. " 
