Could Bone Laminate Become the New Eco-Friendly Material of Choice

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Whilst trawling various product design sites this weekend we happened across a series of interesting proposals concerning the use of bone (specifically waste bovine bone) in which the designer, known merely as Andrew, puts forward a range of ideas for the use of what he terms as ‘Sustainable Ivory’ – one of these being the use of waste bone in laminate form as a new material for gadgetry design.

‘Abattoirs would previously get paid for their leftover bovine bones.’ writes Andrew. ‘However due to the feed ban imposed during the BSE crisis, this is no longer the case. An abattoir in Inverurie has to pay £1600 every day to have their bones incinerated. Around 3 million tonnes of bones are incinerated every year in Europe, despite the majority of them being classified as ‘fit for human consumption’. This disposal method has a detrimental effect on both the environment, and Britain’s rural economy.’

Of the numerous interesting and innovative proposals Andrew offers with respect to utilising the vast and continuous supplies of this ‘Sustainable Ivory’ the use of bone laminate as a finishing material for gadgets – which would be used instead of plastic and very much in the same way as wood laminates – really set us thinking.

What with hide (leather) and bovine flesh being, on the whole (bar certain religions), accepted products, why should we not use this natural resource in this fashion?

The question, of course, is whether you, the consumer, would readily accept bone as a material? Does the idea of, say, a cell phone being made of bone (in respect of the casing) repulse you or would you, like us, merely see it as a eco-sustainable use of a natural by-product that is otherwise merely being disposed of (and therefore wasted)?

We look forward to your thoughts.

[via Product Design Forums]