Here you can see how a 3D printer replicates Jorma Vennola’s ‘Kaveri’ glass taken from the collection of the museum made from biodegradable biopolymers from seaweed. When it’s done, the printer throws the glass automatically into the aquarium of the degeneration tank.

The ‘Kaveri’ or ‘Buddy’ wine glasses were designed by Vennola in 1979. After completing his studies at the University of Arts and Design in Helsinki in 1970, The Finnish designer began his career in the United States as designer of toys. However, he quickly diversified his work and began receiving commissions for a variety of different products, from industrial faucets to smaller household appliances.

In 1975, Vennola started his collaboration with the Finnish glass factory Iittala, which is renowned for its timeless design. Vennola’s ‘Kaveri’ glasses feature two parts: a glass bowl on an interchangeable plastic stem. Since the glass and stems are available in a variety of sizes, colours and transparencies, the two individual parts can be combined in any way you choose. The plastic stems are available in red, white, black and blue. Here, the glass is opaque, made from white and dark cobalt glass.

Studio Klarenbeek & Dros chose these two glasses as symbols of the explosive growth of lifestyle products in the seventies and eighties, which in turn led to a major increase in the consumption of plastic. In addition, the combination of plastic and glass provided a solution for satisfying the strict demands of the European Union in the area of food contact materials. Major investments are needed to gain the ‘food safe’ quality mark for material innovations. A design such as that for the ‘Kaveri’ glasses is a smart solution for combining the best of two different materials.

The process of breaking down a scale model of a design by Ineke Hans is closely monitored in a second degeneration tank. This way, the designers can guarantee that it’s truly a healthy environment for the water and the life within it.

The garden kitchen table set ‘Tête-à-tête’ (1997), was designed by Ineke Hans using recycled plastic. The creations of Hans give pride of place to a no-nonsense use of material and production techniques. The designer also couples innovation and old techniques or ‘vernacular design’. According to Hans, craftsmanship, industrial production and digital manufacture go hand in hand and must reinforce each other.

The table with two matching stools is made of black recycled plastic planks, which are produced by the Friesland-based company Lankhorst. This material is primarily intended for industrial applications, such as cladding canals or waterways and for scaffolding. Hans has become a pioneer in the application of this material for everyday use in the home. The anonymity of this sustainable but industrially developed plastic is given character by referring to the use of the black lacquered planks in self-made tables. The initial item has since been joined by similar furniture as part of an extended product family. The full range can be purchased via the designer’s own website and selected outlets.

Studio Klarenbeek & Dros chose this furniture set as a symbol for reusing synthetic materials for consumer products. Besides this, the studio is also collaborating with Lankhorst to see if their plastic materials can be replaced by a seaweed based material.

This KLM service was designed in 1946 by Andries Copier for use on the first commercial flights. KLM introduced single-use as a principle during flights with this design. The passengers were allowed to take the service home. The Dutch designer took the famous canary yellow, hexagonal breakfast service by Berlage and Zwart (1924) as his source of inspiration. At the time, Copier worked in the Leerdam glass factory where this service was made.

He opted to use the much lighter melamine instead of pressed glass. This material also had to be produced with moulds, which explains the similar shapes. In 1952, the ‘ready tray system’ made its entrance into the aviation kitchen. The food was plated up in the kitchen on handy, partitioned trays and placed in containers, before being taken to the aircraft as ready-to-serve meals. Copier modified the shape of various plates and the service. 

Studio Klarenbeek & Dros chose this set because it’s an early example of the use of synthetic materials at the start of commercial air travel. This industry grew exponentially in the last decade, which gave a new level of freedom of movement for the consumer, but also contributed to the problems of pollution we have to deal with now.