Student uses plant waste to create sustainable alternative to dye
Imperial Oil student Nicole Stjernswärd uses vegetable waste to create natural powder pigments that can be used for paint, ink or textiles.
Historically, colour has come from plants and minerals, but with the beginning of industrialization, cheap petrochemical colours have become the norm, to the detriment of the environment.
The colours of most consumer products are now derived from petrochemicals, however, Nicole believes that pigments will change as a result of the increasing focus on global sustainability.
Nicole is a student at the Innovation Design Engineering Master, offered jointly by Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art.
High value resource
Many plants and fruits consumed every day, such as avocados, onions and pomegranates, have precious colours in their skin and peels. Normally, they are left to rot in landfills, but KAIKU transforms this waste into a valuable resource.
KAIKU's color manufacturing machine converts vegetable dyes into paint pigments, allowing the user to create custom colors and have complete control over the color source. Vegetable dyes are added to the machine's tanks and sprayed into dry powders. This process takes a few minutes and gives pigments that can be used for artists' traditional paints, inks and textiles.
Unique natural pigment
Depending on how it is maintained, the natural colour of plants can fade in just a few months, making it perfect for items used for a short period of time. Items required for a longer period of time can be re-dyed or recoloured if necessary.
Each batch of natural pigment is unique and depends on the growth conditions of the raw plants used, for example one batch of avocado pigment will be slightly different from another. This allows mass-produced products to feel more handmade and unique, and makes applications numerous.
Nicole's inspiration for the project began with oil paints, which were once made more naturally, but are now made mainly from synthetic materials and chemicals. She then met textile designers, who told her that they wanted to use more natural dyes, but that they had to be used quickly because they mould. Nicole says her system is easier to use and has a longer lifespan.
Practical process
She said, "The project uses existing and old knowledge that people could have forgotten by integrating new technologies.
Studies at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art have given Nicole "access to specialists in the field and experts on both sides. I really enjoyed working with different disciplines, and I'm exploring how I can continue to do so after graduation."
Nicole hopes that her practical process will generate public interest and encourage the public to care about the products they buy and where they come from.
