What Are Biomaterials?

A Sustainable Future Starting in Your Kitchen and Wardrobe

Biomaterials are materials derived from renewable resources, such as plants or animals, that are often biodegradable, meaning they can naturally decompose without leaving behind harmful residues. They serve as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, which are typically made from non-renewable petroleum and can persist in the environment for centuries.

Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, biomaterials form a diverse “material ecosystem,” each with distinct properties and potential applications: from packaging and textiles to biodegradable films and everyday products. Their use supports a regenerative approach to design and consumption, significantly reducing environmental impact while meeting human needs.

Many biomaterials can be crafted from or grown using organic kitchen waste, making them accessible for home experimentation and community-scale innovation. Notable examples include:

Bacterial nanocellulose from kombucha cultures – a byproduct of home-brewed fermentation, transformed into thin, flexible biofilms.
Mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi – cultivated using substrates like coffee grounds or sawdust to form leather-like packaging or textiles.
Plant-based cellulose – extracted from agricultural byproducts or fibrous food waste, used in paper, card, and bio-films.

As explored in this article, biomaterials are not only the future of sustainable design; they are already a practical and adaptable part of it, with growing applications in both homes and industries around the world.

From Plastic to Biomaterials: A Brief Timeline

Sustainable Innovation in the Kitchen

Your kitchen isn't just for cooking, it can be a lab for sustainability. The concept of turning kitchen waste into biomaterials is becoming an accessible, creative practice. This circular approach helps reduce waste while offering hands-on engagement with sustainable materials.

Biomaterials Made From Kitchen Waste

These use waste directly as raw material:

Coffee grounds, yerba mate, and veggie and fruit scraps can be blended into bio-composites or serve as natural fillers in bioplastics.
Eggshells provide calcium-rich material for reinforcement in biomaterial blends.
Starches and agar agar (from potatoes and seaweed) are ideal for making biodegradable films and containers.

Biomaterials Grown Using Kitchen Waste

These are not waste themselves but are cultivated at home using organic waste as a substrate:

Mycelium, can be grown on coffee grounds or sawdust to create leather-like packaging and molded materials.
Kombucha-derived bacterial nanocellulose is produced during fermentation of tea and sugar. The resulting SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) grows layers that can be dried into durable, flexible “kombucha leather.”

This blend of waste reuse and low-impact biofabrication brings biomaterials into reach for anyone curious to explore sustainability in their daily life.

Platforms like Materiom offer open-source recipes using ingredients found in most kitchens or local markets.

Bioplastics vs. Biomaterials: A Critical Distinction

While often used interchangeably, bioplastics and biomaterials are not the same, and understanding the difference is key to evaluating sustainability:

Some bioplastics are bio-based but not biodegradable (e.g., bio-PE), meaning they behave like traditional plastics and persist in the environment.
Some biodegradable plastics are made from fossil fuels and require industrial composting conditions to break down.

As noted in Fashion for Good’s “Understanding ‘Bio’ Material Innovations,” it's essential to evaluate biomaterials based on renewability, biodegradability, and lifecycle impact. “Bio” doesn’t always mean better, unless the material is well-designed and well-managed from production to disposal.

The Fashion Industry Embraces Biomaterials

One of the most dynamic frontiers for biomaterials is the fashion industry, a sector historically reliant on synthetic fibers and resource-intensive production. As environmental awareness grows, fashion brands are turning to innovative, bio-based alternatives that merge performance, aesthetics, and sustainability.

Today, both emerging designers and global fashion houses are integrating biomaterials into their collections, showcasing their versatility across accessories, apparel, and footwear:

From luxury handbags to everyday sneakers, biomaterials are redefining what sustainable fashion can look and feel like. This shift reflects a broader industry movement toward circular design, regenerative resources, and plant-powered innovation.

Challenges and the Path Forward

While biomaterials hold incredible promise, there are still hurdles to overcome:

Scalability and cost-efficiency remain challenges for widespread adoption.
Some materials require industrial infrastructure to biodegrade effectively.
Performance, like durability, moisture resistance, and wear, can still lag behind synthetic alternatives.

Scientific research continues to push the field forward. Studies such as Engineered Mycelium Composite Construction Materials and Bacterial nanocellulose: a versatile biopolymer for wound dressing applications show growing innovation in structural strength and bio-compatibility. Continued investment is key to making biomaterials a standard rather than a novelty.

Still, the outlook is optimistic. The global biomaterials market is projected to reach $47.5 billion by 2025, with some forecasts estimating $64.2 billion by 2029, reflecting accelerating innovation and commercial interest.

Conclusion: From Trash to Transformation

Biomaterials represent more than a scientific breakthrough, they reflect a shift in values: from extraction to regeneration, from waste to resource.

Whether you’re drying kombucha SCOBY in your kitchen or choosing a cactus leather tote over a PVC bag, you’re participating in a broader movement of sustainable design and ecological responsibility.

And it starts small. A banana peel, a handful of coffee grounds, or a sheet of seaweed could be the beginning of your journey into the world of biomaterials, one that connects creativity, culture, and climate action.