Mr Kombucha's Lab

Mr. Kombucha's Lab, a resource-sharing platform that promotes SCOBY as a biomaterial, aims to guide people in using SCOBY to create DIY products and reduce reliance on leather and plastic. SCOBY is a by-product of kombucha production and a high-performance fibre material. Now the project has iterated to its second generation, which is committed to promoting SCOBY materials through small-scale workshops. The project simplifies the intricate processing of SCOBY into a DIY process and achieves a closed lifecycle from production to recycling. As a leather alternative, SCOBY material should be practically popularised and applied, contributing to the advancement of sustainable design with a focus on materials. Numerous designers and artists have taken notice of SCOBY, actively exploring its applications. However, the processes and tools employed often prove impractical for daily life. This project streamlines the entire lifecycle processing of SCOBY, from cultivation to degradation, enhancing its accessibility and usability. The project is divided into four parts: experimenting with diverse processing techniques to obtain samples; cultivating SCOBY with identified optimal processes and integrating iterated processes into a mobile incubator; creating DIY items such as bags using cultivated SCOBY; and sharing the processes in workshops. Red Dot Award: Design Concept | Red Dot: Next Gen Award | Concept | Material and Surfaces