Sustainable and Degradable Plant Fibres

Phytophilia - A PETERSEN 2020 - @Kristian Holm

Intro by Eduarda Bastian

The use of natural raw materials, when done with consciousness and respect, is one of the closest connections we can have with the Earth - something that has been forgotten along the way. In order to renew this connection and have a symbiotic relationship with everything natural, we must relearn the knowledge kept by our ancestors and those who have been nurturing this partnership as a genuine way of living. Working with natural fibres, raw materials, agroecology, and agroforestry is not something brand-new - it is just something that has been lost in modern life. Plants have been the first source of raw materials for many communities worldwide for as long as they can remember. The use of its fibres would be responsible for providing clothing, fishnets, baskets, cords, ropes, roofs, household tools and many other useful objects. Thousands of plant fibres can provide us with different properties and solutions for our current needs, and the possibilities are endless. When working properly and with appreciation with plant-based materials, the benefit is mutual - it will give you what you need if you consider the needs of all the beings involved in the process, including the material itself. Working with such materials will also lessen the need of using synthetic components, proven to cause significant damage to both the environment and human health. The possibilities of using natural materials do not only stick to plant fibres like flax and hemp - materials coming from agricultural waste and innovative plant-based sources such as seaweed are also on the highlight. The diversified cultivation of plant fibres can also lead to a more biodiverse environment, which has proven to be of urgent importance nowadays.

The world has been seeing more and more creators willing to redefine the shallow hyperconsumerism way of living by renewing the connection with natural materials and ancient techniques. Those creators believe that working with natural fibres respectfully and cooperatively with every being involved in the process can lead towards a more ethical and sustainable circular production. Essential questions such as where was it grown, who cultivated it, how it was cultivated, and the historical and cultural significance of the material can never be left aside, as transparency is a key factor when talking about circularity and sustainability. By researching local materials and the local flora, designers are working closely together with communities that carry the knowledge and the values that have proven to be of extreme importance when working with a deep ecology approach.

Phytophilia

A digital Encyclopedia of plant fibERS

Bamboo, banana leaves, hemp, flax, and seaweed are some natural fibres that Sara Martinsen collects and archives. The Danish designer started exploring plant fibres to learn more about their different purposes and uses in product design, architecture, decorative art, and vital knowledge about sustainable and degradable materials.

In October 2020, Sara exhibited over 20 different fibres in the Phytophilia exhibition in Copenhagen. The exhibition displayed fibres in different states: preserved in a herbarium, dried and debarked, degummed and ready to spin into yarn, as textiles samples, and as building materials. However, her research could not end there, so this year, she launched Phytophilia.dk, an open-source encyclopedia of plant fibres. It is a digital space for sharing her knowledge and raising greater awareness of the potential of natural fibres. The project also ensures that ancient techniques and multigenerational practices are not erased over time.

“Phytophilia.dk is an extension of this work because I want to share my knowledge. Hopefully you can skip some steps and save some time. I have tried to create a precise and manageable description of each plant enough to navigate towards better solutions and hopefully implement the plant materials even more in our future products, buildings and our lives. At the same time we can share knowledge and ensure that old techniques and multigenerational practices is not erased over time.”

— Sara Martinsen

“How to tackle the environmental issues is a complex matter but it is also very simple. We need to understand that we origin from nature and our behavior has an impact. Instead of draining the resources we have been given we have to leave a positive mark. When we gain back some basic knowledge about the nature we start to appreciate the plants and from here a good process will start. This is my opinion anyway.”

— Sara Martinsen