Biodegradable Hanging Light

I created a biodegradable hanging light that will grow after the product's lifecycle has been fulfilled. The shape and texture of the light were inspired by coral. I decided to go with a foamy bioplastic because the bubbles mimic the texture left by seafoam on coral formations. The other two lights are made from a paper pulp mixture which allow the bioplastic to stand out.

Supplies

Ingredients

For paper pulp:

• 4 cups paper pulp
• 1 ½ cups flour
• ½ cup poppy seeds
• ¼ cup charcoal
• Hot glue
• Hessian tube

Equipment

• Blender
• Measuring cups
• Mixing bowl
• Sieve
• Bamboo cones (150mm)
• Glue gun

Ingredients

For foamy bioplastic:

• 24g glycerine
• 24g gelatine
• 300ml water
• 2tsp organic dishwashing liquid
• If making it grey:
• Add 2tsp charcoal.
• If making it purple
• Add 1 tsp charcoal.
• 1.5ml red food colourant
• Hessian tube

Equipment

• Scale
• Measuring cups
• Small pot
• Whisk
• Baking spatula 
• Baking tray (245mmx355mm)
• 3mm Double-sided tape

Step 1: Making the Paper Pulp

1. Crush 2 charcoal briquettes.
2. Measure out the material.
3. Shred paper and add it to a mixing bowl.
4. Add boiling water and allow to soak overnight.
5. Use a blender and blend the paper into a pulp.
6. Run the Pulp through a sieve, until the pulp is malleable.
7. Add the flour, charcoal, and poppy seeds in that order.

Step 2: Making Paper Pulp Cones

1. Place bamboo cones over a bottle to lift the cones up while you work
2. Layer the pulp onto the bamboo cones with about 4mm-5mm thickness
3. Take about 3mm from the tip of the cone
4. Allow to dry for 48 hours
5. Remove the cones

Step 3: Adding LEDs to the Pulp Light

1. Make sure the one power cable is 200mm long and the other is 80mm long.
2. Cut two LED strips into 230mm lengths.
3. Place the LEDs in a spiral on the inside of each cone.
4. Glue in place with a drop of hot glue.
5. Allow the power cable to run out through the top of the cone.

Step 4: Adding a Finishing to the Pulp Cones

1. Cut hessian tubes 5mm shorter than each power cable.
2. Thread the power cable through the hessian tubing.
3. Hang into place.
4. Connect the power cables to a power supply.

Step 5: Preparing the Biofoam Plastic

Layout kidney beans onto the baking tray (as equidistant as possible).

Step 6: Making the Biofoam Plastic

Use the crushed charcoal from Step 1

1. Measure out material.
2. Boil water
3. Add glycerine keeping the temperature between 60°C-80°C.
4. Add gelatine and stir slowly until the gelatine has fully dissolved.
5. Add food colourant at this point (optional).
6. Allow mixture to simmer while stirring slowly.
7. Add dishwashing liquid once the mixture has thickened to a honey syrup consistency.
8. Add charcoal at this point (optional).
9. And whisk vigorously until the desired bubbles are formed.
10. Allow to thicken for 2 minutes while stirring slowly on a slightly lower heat.
11. Pour onto the baking tray and add poppy seeds while still wet.
12. Repeat 1-11 four times allowing each batch to overlap.
13. Leave to dry for 72 hours before removing it from the baking tray.

Step 7: Making the Biofoam Plastic Cones

1. Remove the kidney beans that are easy to remove and leave the beans that are more embedded into the biofoam plastic.
2. Cut the foam plastic sheet into a square 245mmx245mm.
3. Overlap two sides of the square.
4. Sew the two sides together using hessian thread and knot the ends of each thread.

Step 8: Adding LEDs to the Biofoam Plastic Light

1. Make sure the cable is 150mm long
2. Cut the LED strip into 230mm lengths.
3. Stick an extra strip of double-sided tape onto the LED strip.
4. Stick the LED strip on the shorter side of the cone.
5. Allow the power cable to run out through the top of the cone.

Step 9: Adding a Finishing to the Biofoam Plastic Cones

1. Powder crushed charcoal onto the edges.
2. Cut hessian tubes 5mm shorter than each power cable.
3. Thread the power cable through the hessian tubing.
4. Hang into place.
5. Connect the power cables to a power supply.