Copied Bioplastic Bottle

Is bioplastic designing the design?

COPIED BIOPLASTIC BOTTLE investigates the increased use of bioplastics. Many designers act mysterious and do not want to share their recipe for their “bioplastic.” Ari Jónsson describes his project about a degradable water bottle made of agar-agar, in a TED talk and adds: “Maybe you copy the project like it is. Or maybe you take something from it and add something else to it.” Besides the interesting conceptual approach, he does not add any information on how to copy it. Doing short internet research you find a lot of recipes for „bioplastic“ and some hints on how to work with it.

Agar-Agar : 24g
(Tap-)water : 800ml
Gylcerin : 36g
Food colouring
1. Mix ingredients in a pot and stir.
2. Heat the mixture to boiling point, and simmer for 15 - 20min, stirring constantly.
3. When the mass thickens, fill in a suitable mould (e.g. a PET-bottle).
4. Rotate the mould until the mass solidifes (Leftover mass can be recooked and used again.)
5. Cool the mould (best in a refrigerator).

But does this material really serves its purpose?