Brio

Polystyrene is one of the most produced and polluting plastics in the world. Its composition of 98% air and only 2% material makes it an unprofitable plastic to recycle. The aim of the project was to develop a creative process to recycle this major pollutant, to show the beauty of what insects can bring us and their importance.

As for the worms, they can consume plastic exclusively for the rest of their lives with no effect on their health other than a few nutritional deficiencies (which can be corrected by taking vitamins and minerals every two weeks). After promising experiments on polystyrene, two applications of this new creative process have been developed.

The first approach was to create a vase from the plastic foam used by the Louvre Conservation Centre to transport artworks between museums. These foams, in the shape of antique objects, were discarded and not recycled. They are then offered to insects as a medium of expression in a field where insects are generally hunted because they damage artworks. Thanks to the techniques developed to guide the worms through the plastic foam, the designer and the insect craftsmen propose a reinterpretation of an antique vase using modern materials. The finished vase is cast in Jesmonite, a natural and sustainable resin.

The second approach was to design a series of knives for the Parisian gourmet restaurant Inoveat, which invites guests to discover entomophagy (insect consumption) through its dishes. The use of worms allows the creation of unique pieces while contributing to the culinary experience by bringing people and insects closer together in a closer relation.