46% of each animal gets wasted after slaughtering: This is not only disrespectful, but also environmentally totally irresponsible for various reasons.
But how could we better use the entire animal and make most out of it‘s sacrifice?
Bones are a great example of how we could maximize the use of an animal. In Europe a big percentage of these bones end up in the waste as their value is not seen by slaughterhouses, but instead they could serve as an ecological material resource. And this resource could then replace other materials that are harmful to people and the environment.
Working with leftovers is nothing new. Gelatin, soap, glue and fertilizer are just a few examples of products that are made of cow’s or pig’s leftovers. The design industry has neglected the opportunity to work with animal by-products and recycle them for a long time (outside of fashion / fur). The experimental hands on project “to the bones“ explores various properties of bone mixtures in the search for new applications. My research shows that there is a range of applications – for example ecological packaging and construction materials to stunning table ware and interior.
In 2015 I moved for my internship at an interior design company to Berlin. Afterwards I started my product design studies at weißensee kunsthochschule berlin in 2016. In 2018 I studied and lived at IKDC Lund for 6 months. Back in Berlin I developed a shelf made of recycled plastic in cooperation with fundamental.berlin. In 2020, I graduated with my bachelor’s thesis „To The Bones“, which also revolved around the topic of recycling. Afterwards I worked for 4 months in Milan at the design and architecture company Studiopepe. Back in Germany, I am currently working on my master’s thesis at the weißensee kunsthochschule berlin.
Email: design@ellaheinhell.com
Website: https://ellaeinhell.com/
