DESIGN INSPIRATION: sustainable materials recommendations?

I just came across this in a TikTok video (link below in comments) and had to share.

Vivomer is a biomaterial made by fermenting soil microbes, kind of like kombucha. It can be melted, pelletized, and run through the same machines we use for plastics. But it’s home compostable, breaking down in soil like a banana peel.

Right now it’s being used for packaging, but in theory it could replace plastic in almost anything.

I’m curious if anyone has worked with Vivomer, or have insight into how it performs in real product contexts? And what other lesser-known sustainable materials have you come across that deserve more attention?

I wanted to use this opportunity to kick off a new weekend series I’m calling “Design Inspiration”, where each week I will be highlighting a new material, technique, or specific design that inspires me. Hope you enjoy it and follow along.

———​ To bold ideas and well-crafted things,​ Blair

Want to connect → linkedin.com/in/blairhasty

Here’s the TikTok I found this in: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6bwqC5k/