The innovative power of interdisciplinary collaborations

In short, the What Matter_s 2.0 project paired six designers with six manufacturing companies, to showcase the innovative power of interdisciplinary collaborations – developing new sustainable materials from industrial waste. One of the design teams; Henriksson & Lindgren, a newly based Malmö studio, was paired with the juice company; Kiviks Musteri. For their project, Henriksson & Lindgren decided to work with two types of waste; leftovers from Kivik’s juice press and waste water sludge.

Turning waste water sludge into bioplastic, proved to be quite challenging. Hence, Henriksson & Lindgren turned towards the industry for support. Due to Perstorp’s previous work and experience with bioplastic, thermoplastic and 3D printing, it was a great opportunity for our Innovations Team to directly support and showcase the innovative power of interdisciplinary collaborations.

Linda Zellner, Vice President Strategic Markets Innovation, adds: 
“Since we very often work upstream, far away from the end-consumer, it always gives us an incredible energy boost to be able to support partners throughout the entire development process – all the way to the end-product. Finally, it’s extremely important that everyone in our development team have the opportunity to engage with our customers and partners, to meet their needs and collaborate in the best possible way.”

Developing new sustainable materials from industrial waste

Already back in January 2020, the designer team visited Innovation at Perstorp, to learn more about how a raw material can be formulated into a material with specific properties. Hereafter transforming the material into a plastic thread or filament, to be used for 3D printing. A perfect match for Henriksson & Lindgren, who managed to create Slam! – a biodegradable polymer which unlike many other polymers doesn’t turn into microplastics, if it ends up in the sea.

Throughout the project, Perstorp Innovation supported the project with knowledge and expertise as well as providing access to produce prototypes with our 3D printers at Site Perstorp. 

Martin Olofsson, Development Chemist, played an active role in the project, supporting the design team with his experience and skills within 3D printing. ”It has been a very interesting project, which we have been happy to be part of. Truly exciting to contribute and to see how our building blocks can be applied in end-user products and to see how waste can be turned into a valuable material. The designers did a really great job, very creative and above all, good for the environment,” says Martin. 

Henriksson & Lindgren’s biodegradable planting pots and plant clips were displayed in the exhibition Metabolic Processes for Leftovers at the Form/Design Center and again at the first edition of Southern Sweden Design Days, which will be held 27–30 May in Malmö, Sweden.

We would like to thank Henriksson & Lindgren for a great collaboration and congratulate you on your innovative contribution to What Matter_s 2.0.  

Photo by Daniel Engvall.