Industrial design student Alara Ertenü has developed a packaging solution for soap made from peapods and artichoke waste, which is currently on show as part of Dutch Design Week.
The packaging, which comes in a golden-brown colour, is designed to offer a less polluting alternative to commonly used plastic soap packaging. The project aims to address the pressing environmental issue of single-use plastic consumption while simultaneously reducing food waste.
Packioli by Alara Ertenü is a biodegradable soap packaging
"All of this curiosity started with a question: how can these local food wastes be circulated back into the economy," Ertenü told Dezeen.
"The goal behind the zero-waste wraps is to eliminate plastic packaging and also meet the hygiene, logistics and endurance needs of soap brands." The packaging is water resistant for up to 15 days
To make Packioli, artichoke leaves and stems are freezer-dried at minus 70 degrees Celsius alongside the peapods before being pulverized into a fine powder.
The powder is then mixed with water, vegetable glycerin and alginic acid ? a natural acid derived from brown algae ? to form a gummy-like substance.
It is made from artichoke waste and peapods
This is then poured into a mould and left to dry for up to two days at room temperature. Once set, Ertenü uses heat to seal the edges of the little parcels. Finally, the packaging is dyed using beetroot and turmeric, giving it its golden hue.
The packaging's name, Pack...