laura bordini repurposes microalgae and industrial waste biomass to nourish plant life

by osmosis generates agricultural biostimulants

Laura Bordini’s By Osmosis explores a circular process in which waste generated by one process serves as nourishment for another. The project showcases the potential of ‘growing materials’, namely microalgae, in promoting ecological regeneration by actively contributing to fostering plant life.

From the biomass derived from the death of microorganisms recovered from industrial waste centers, the designer believes that it is possible to generate a biomaterial to stimulate plant growth. She presents a series of products, such as packaging materials, that can be planted and act as agricultural biostimulants.

packaging samples made up of microalgae and wood powder | all images courtesy of Laura Bordini

laura bordini creates circular process from waste

Waste, akin to materials, constitutes an intrinsic element of human development, serving as one of the evolutionary legacies transmitted to next generations. It provides multifaceted insights into an individual’s lifestyle and habits. ‘In this context, planned obsolescence has gradually integrated into our purchasing habits. It is a system that perpetuates our existences, insidiously infiltrating to the point of escaping our awareness, making its eradication equally challenging,’ notes Laura Bordini. In response, By Osmosis contends that research on materials and our interaction with them is fundamental for a more responsible and conscious production approach.

To delve into this extensive topic, and to propose a design model focusing on the recovery of an industrial waste, the Italian designer chose to work with microalgae biomass, resulting from the waste water purification process of the Metabolon (Lindlar, Germany) waste disposal centre. From the biomass, she creates agricultural biostimulants. The project strives to elucidate the potential of growing materials in fostering ecological regeneration. In a broader context, it aspires to serve as a model for interdisciplinary practices, amalgamating diverse knowledge and skills from various disciplines to yield innovative outcomes.

By Osmosis explores a circular process in which waste generated by one process serves as nourishment for another