Year: 2024

Funding Partner: Nordic Innovation

Focus: Design, Material Development, Circularity

With the support and guidance of Nordic Innovation, Interesting Times Gang has successfully transformed two marine biomasses - cultivated sugar kelp and invasive Pacific oyster shells - into biodegradable materials and design furniture.

The project had two primary objectives: first, to develop bioplastics from kelp and oyster shells for use in large-format 3D printing and manufacturing; and second, to create Kelpwood, a material combining kelp and wood waste to produce boards and panels for interior applications. Unlike traditional plastics and composite panels, these materials contain no fossil-based ingredients, synthetic glues, or binders. Designed with full biodegradability in mind, they break down naturally without leaving behind microplastics or harmful chemicals.

The bioplastics developed through this project have been used to create several award-winning pieces: the Kelp Chair and its sibling, the Kelpie Stool, crafted from sugar kelp; the Gigas coffee table, the Infauna lamp, and the Caillou seating collection, all made from oyster shells. Additionally, Interesting Times Gang produced a full-scale replica of a traditional Vättersnipa boat using the oyster shell material; an artistic collaboration with Swedish artist Jenny Nordmark.

Initially envisioned as a pressed material to replace MDF or chipboard, the Kelpwood project evolved into an innovative new design application. By foaming wood pulp with kelp and extracting the moisture, the team created a visually striking, soft material with excellent sound absorption properties; making it ideal for acoustic panels and sustainable packaging solutions.

Many of these pioneering furniture pieces have been showcased at major design events, including Stockholm Furniture Fair, Grand Designs Live in Birmingham and London, Salone del Mobile in Milan, and Surface Design in London. The Vättersnipa project also received national recognition, being featured on SVT, Sweden’s public broadcaster.

This project has attracted significant attention from both Scandinavian and international design media. Several pieces have been acquired by the Swedish property company Fabege, as well as by private collectors, solidifying Kelpwood and bioplastics as viable materials for the future of sustainable design.