Alternate to Plastic Agar Plasticity by Amam, Tokyo, Japanese Technology

Imaginative design explorations continue to conjure up smart uses for seaweed. In Viewpoint Magazine 35, we highlighted the growing potential of algae as a sustainable building and design tool. Agar Plasticity is a new project conceived by Japanese design agency Amam; it explores the use of algae as an alternative to synthetic, environmentally toxic plastic in areas including packaging and wall tiles. The benefits of humble seaweed are considerable: compared to non-biodegradable, petroleum-rich plastic, agar – made from algae – is a natural product that biodegrades after use. Amam’s experiments include agar-made packaging with integrated cushioning; sheets of flexible agar and algae fibre that can be used to wrap bunches of flowers or protect bottles and pots in transport; and even, by mixing agar with crushed shell waste, a resilient, mouldable composite that could be used as building material. This eco-friendly material could well help to turn the tide on plastic packaging.