Sewage ink? Wearable pineapple? Here are five odd sustainability inventions you have to see to believe.
You know we’re constantly keeping tabs on the global sustainability conversation, and we’re always keen to discover brands that are playing their part. That’s why we’re psyched to find out that this year, MINI is creating an eco cultural trail to explore the issue, with out-of-the-box solutions that are as innovative as they are fun.
Take a peek into this futuristic journey at the MINI ExtraOddinary event happening from 22 to 24 November 2019. Fun fact: The first MINI was created as an answer to the fuel shortage that hit after the Suez Crisis. So it’s no surprise that the brand is at the top of its sustainability game – it was part of the culture right from the start.
Making odd a norm
The MINI ExtraOddinary trail brings you through 16 installations and activities, spotlighting trends and innovations pertaining to everything from climate change to food security issues. Here are a few strangely cool picks that caught our eye…
First up, sustainability’s latest ready-to-wear collection features wearable pineapple in place of artificial materials. Drop by the Pineapple Trading Store to feast your eyes on the range of juicy accessories deliciously made from Pinatex, a material that feels like leather but is actually created with pineapple leaves.
And in a bid to save our planet, innovators are looking everywhere for solutions – that means even the sewers are fair game. Watch calligraphy masters penning their prose with Sum Waste Ink, processed straight from sewage.
Concrete jungle? Make it mushroom, as building blocks here are constructed with shrooms that promise to revolutionise the way we build our cities. See it for yourself when you walk through the special archway guarded by a pair of lions made with mycelium instead of the usual stone.
The food in your fridge will be set to change, too: Expect an edible plastic upgrade to food when the future rolls around. Check out Evoware, a seaweed-based alternative to plastic wraps, which lets you can eat your food packaging with your food. It’s mind-blowing stuff.
Oh, and homeware fanatics, here’s where you can get inspiration on how to prettify your place while staying true to your sustainable roots. Robries Gallery has gorgeously created a range of decor pieces using discarded plastic, which means you can dress up your crib while playing a part in recycling at the same time.
Let’s talk culture
Yes, culture is part of the conversation, too. In a time when the hectic pace of modernisation sees historical sites torn down and the banishing of old structures to make way for gleaming new ones, the location of Chinatown was chosen to highlight its importance as a heritage-rich district.
So as you journey along this trail and witness futuristic innovations, don’t forget to look up and admire the surrounding sights of traditional shophouses and souvenirs that harken back to the bygone days.
Wanna join the trail? Visit the MINI ExtraOddinary website for more details.
MINI ExtraOddinary: An Ecocultural Trail, 22 – 24 Nov 2019, 10am to 7pm, Chinatown
This story is in partnership with MINI.
