Eleonora Ortolani developed a method to convert plastic waste into vanillin using bio-engineered E. coli bacteria. Collaborating with scientist Joanna Sadler, the "Guilty Flavours" project transforms plastic at a molecular level, using the produced vanillin to flavour ice cream. This innovative approach challenges traditional recycling, advocating for a sustainable ecosystem.
Guilty Flavours
Sept 16, 2023
Materials
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Eleonora Ortolani, a visionary designer, has pioneered an innovative approach to addressing the pressing issue of plastic waste. Ingeniously, Ortolani has transformed this waste into vanillin, the primary component of vanilla flavoring. Unhappy with conventional recycling methods that often yield non-recyclable outcomes, she collaborated with scientists to deconstruct plastic at its molecular core. Her groundbreaking initiative, "Guilty Flavours," challenges and redefines the future direction of recycling and sustainable living.
Using bio-engineered enzymes found in E. coli bacteria, the team successfully dismantled the strong molecular bonds of plastic, converting it into vanillin. This synthesized compound was then creatively used to flavor ice cream. It served not only as a distinctive treat but also as a powerful commentary on re-envisioning our relationship with waste materials. This venture prompts a reevaluation of conventional perspectives on plastic waste, championing a more integrated, circular ecosystem.
The project's evolution from a mere idea to a tangible reality was made possible through a partnership with Joanna Sadler, a research scientist at the University of Edinburgh. Sadler provided the crucial engineered E. coli, central to the hands-on experiments conducted at CSM's Grow Lab.
Eleonora Ortolani 是一位有遠見的設計師，她開創了一種創新的方法來應對塑膠垃圾這一緊迫問題。 她巧妙地將這種廢物轉化為香草醛，即香草味的主要成分。 對於經常產生不可回收產品的傳統回收方法感到不滿，奧爾托拉尼與科學家合作在分子層面解構塑膠。 她的項目“Guilty Flavours”大膽地挑戰了關於回收和可持續性的現有觀念。
透過利用大腸桿菌中的生物工程酶，團隊成功地打破了塑膠的堅固分子鍵，將其轉化為香草醛。 然後，這種合成化合物被創造性地用來為冰淇淋調味，不僅是作為一種獨特的美味，而且還是重新構想我們與廢棄材料關係的有力評論。 該計畫促使人們重新評估對塑膠垃圾的既定觀點，並促進對環境採取更全面、循環的方法。
該計畫從一個概念轉變為切實的成果是透過與愛丁堡大學的研究科學家 Joanna Sadler 的合作實現的。 Sadler 提供了經過工程改造的大腸桿菌，這對於在CSM的 Grow Lab 進行的實驗至關重要。
Eleonora Ortolani
Eleonora is a multidisciplinary designer renowned for her deep emphasis on material experimentation. Her body of work is a compelling tribute to interdisciplinary thinking and the boundless potential of design.
Born and raised in Italy, Eleonora nurtured an early passion for design, later pursuing her studies in visual communication at a distinguished university in Milan. After obtaining her degree, she dedicated several years to working as a graphic designer, refining her skills and attaining a profound grasp of visual communication.
This background allows Eleonora to infuse a distinctive aesthetic sensibility into every project she undertakes. However, her insatiable curiosity about the confluence of science and design prompted her to delve into innovative design avenues.
Her exploration often encompasses materials and techniques inspired by scientific tenets. A significant area of Eleonora's focus is the future of food, which she perceives as a potent reflection of societal evolution. The confluence of food, science, and design captivates her, and she continuously seeks novel methods to amalgamate these facets in her creations.
艾莉奧諾拉是一名跨學科設計師，以對材料實驗的深入重視而聞名。 她的作品是跨學科思維和設計無限潛能的生動體現。 在義大利出生長大的她，早早就對設計產生了熱情，後來在米蘭的一所著名大學學習視覺傳達。
獲得學位後，她投身於視覺設計工作數年，不斷精進自己的技能，並對視覺傳達有了深入的理解。 這種背景使艾莉奧諾拉能夠為她承擔的每一個項目注入獨特的美感。 然而，是她對科學和設計的交會的無盡好奇心，促使她探索創新的設計途徑。
她的探索經常包括受科學原則啟發的材料和技術。 艾莉奧諾拉關注的一個重要領域是食物的未來，她認為這是對社會發展的強大反映。 食物、科學和設計的交會深深吸引了她，她不斷尋找新的方法將這些面向融合在她的創作中。
Future Material Designer: Eleonora Ortolani
eleonoraortolaniee@gmail.com
https://eleonoraortolani.com/
MA Material Futures, Central Saint Martins
