During the last Triennial NGV in Australia, the designer Alice Potts presented a collection of bioplastic face shields made from food waste

Plastic has been one of the greatest heroes in the first fight against COVID-19, but almost a year after the pandemic broke out, many doctors continue to complain about the lack of sustainable protective equipment (EPP, for its acronym in English). ). With this in mind, designer Alice Potts created a bioplastic mask made from food waste.

The renowned designer created an entire collection of bioplastic face shields for the NGV Triennial exhibition in Australia. For the manufacture of this EPP, Potts combined food waste with flowers. The result is protective gear that, unlike other PPE items (typically made from single-use plastics), is biodegradable and made from organic waste.

Bioplastic and 3D printing

Christened Dance Biodegradable Personal Protective Equipment (DBPPE), the new bioplastic mask has a 3D printed upper section, combined with a biodegradable and bioplastic shield. The color and exact structure of each shield vary with the food and flowers from which they are made and dyed.

“Food waste is the basis, and the type of color depends on the type of waste that is thrown away. I usually pick it up from local food markets, butchers and homes, ”Potts told Dezeen.

“Most vegetables can be made into dyes with fruits that act as a natural sugar for flexibility in the bioplastic, while proteins can be used to give strength to the plastic itself,” she continued.

The designer created 20 skins for the NGV Triennial in 2020, but various media and experts consider that the new article could be created by various companies as a resource in the fight against polluting waste.