It is crazy to think about how plastic has taken over our lives, it is found in landfills, oceans and even if we don’t realize it, at our homes. California-based performance materials company Checkerspot wants to change this and has unveiled an algae-based casting kit that strives to help designers replace traditional polyurethane resin, a fossil fuel-derived material commonly found in household items. Dubbed Pollinator Kit, the offering is designed to be a direct-to-designer and contains a biomaterial content of 56 percent, which can be used in the same molds used in fossil-based products.
With its company name inspired by a threatened butterfly species and driven by innovation fueled by human spirit and creativity, Checkerspot is committed to creating solutions that are kinder to our planet and considerate for generations to come. The kit initiative was born as a result of a demand from designers and creatives for renewable materials. By using oil derived from fermented algae, the material creates “renewable building blocks,” that replace petrochemicals in product design.
“Historically, product designers, hobbyists, and artists have been limited by the materials available to them from commodity-based suppliers,” begins Checkerspot founder Charles Dimmler. “Manufacturers of raw materials can often overlook these small but powerful groups, opting instead to bring their materials to market via well-known consumer brands. This strategy pigeonholes renewables, limits the scope of how they can be used and consequently narrows the impact they can have,” he adds.
The microalgal oil used is obtained from industrial facilities in Southern Brazil, and after being mixed with sugars, the water is subtracted to produce the oil. Checkrespots then proceeds to convert oil polyols into polyurethane in Salt Lake City. The company noted, “This approach marries the efficiency of a highly productive, fast-growing, photosynthetic plant (sugarcane) with the efficiency of a highly productive, fast-growing, oil-producing microbe to make a very precise type of oil.”
The benefits that come with the use of the material are “A lower land footprint, a far lower water footprint, and a low carbon use relative to other ways of making oil.” All of this by simply mixing two components and casting the material within 15 minutes. Furthermore, making the kit accessible was an important notion for Checkerspot, which is why they are made for both experienced designers and novices – allowing everyone to make a difference.
Even though polyurethane plastics account for less than 2 percent of ocean waste, their manufacturing process is extremely polluting for the environment as it is a large source of myriad hazardous air pollutants. Thus, we hope to see more initiatives like Checkerspot’s Pollinator kit become accessible for designers, gradually growing in popularity and seeing more and more products begin their life cycle being plant-derived. For more information on the innovative kit, visit Checkerspot’s website.