Reading time: 6 minutes
The climate crisis is pressing deeper into the lives of us all, fueled in large part by petrochemical plastics. Jessie French’s artistic research into algae-derived polymers was inspired by this dismal reality, and as her research grew and deepened, the material innovation studio Other Matter emerged. Now, her Melbourne-based studio develops interior finishes, films and leather alternatives made with a circular economy in mind. In the interview, French speaks about the ins and outs of biobased material solutions, the progress of technology and problem of waste.
What do you believe is the role of designers in promoting the adoption of biofabricated/biobased material solutions?
Designers use materials in their own ways, sometimes led by a client, sometimes by the constraints of the application, almost always with an aesthetic overlay. Adoption isn’t a designer’s job; performance is.
"A material has to earn its place – aesthetically and technically – on its own terms."
Some choices won’t age well given the wider context we’re in, which is probably why more designers and clients are treating ethics and environmental responsibility as a core performance metric rather than an add-on.
What are the next steps needed to gain a stronger foothold for non-petrochemical plastics in the spatial design and textile industry?
The regulatory environment change, particularly in the EU, will have an incredible impact on shifting behaviour. Measures like the ESPR's ecodesign requirements and the ban on destroying unsold clothing and textiles will force material and end-of-life thinking that most supply chains aren't yet built for. That pressure is exactly what will create a stronger foothold for non-petrochemical alternatives.
It's also worth acknowledging that petrochemical plastics are kept artificially cheap by subsidy, global government support for the plastics industry was estimated at USD $80 billion in 2024 alone.
What are your hopes for the future of spatial design?
I'd like to see recognition that materials like ours aren't new. We've been building with natural materials for as long as we've been building at all. I'd like them to been seen for what they are: regular infrastructure, implemented skilfully and appropriately. Not given a pass for being ‘sustainable’ without real consideration behind that claim and not held to a higher bar simply for being ‘new’. My hope is that in ten years, asking whether a material is petrochemical is as unremarkable a question as asking its tensile strength.
