cork and algae compose biodegradable vegan slippers you can bake at home

Oct 17, 2024

Portuguese product designer Giestas introduces Baking Vegan Slippers, a collection that allows bioplastic experimentation in footwear design, encouraging anyone to create biodegradable shoes at home. Using algae-based vegan ingredients and everyday kitchen utensils, the designer demonstrates how household items can serve as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. The project includes alginate, a thickener derived from algae, for the top of the shoe, colored with saffron or black tea, while the sole is made from ground cork bound with agar, an algae-based gelatin substitute. Reused materials like cork bottle tops and spent tea leaves showcase the potential of food-grade ingredients in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and allow users to turn their kitchen into a footwear factory.

all images courtesy of Giestas

The project emphasizes accessibility, highlighting how bioplastics can be explored in any kitchen without specialized tools. Giestas’ use of cork—a sustainable material harvested from oak tree bark—and common pantry items like saffron and tea leaves brings attention to the versatility of biodegradable components. The soles of the slippers are crafted to match the designer’s foot shape, offering a customizable approach to footwear, with each participant able to create bespoke designs by following the recipe.

Through a series of instructional YouTube videos, the Portuguese designer guides viewers through each process step, from mixing the materials to shaping the final product. The recipe encourages experimentation, allowing participants to use ingredients and utensils already found in most homes, making sustainable design approachable and engaging for all.

Baking Vegan Slippers allows bioplastic experimentation in footwear design

Giestas encourages anyone to create biodegradable shoes at home

the sole is made from ground cork bound with agar, an algae-based gelatin substitute

household items can serve as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics