With MACNAS, I contributed to EarthLoop, a eco-friendly, fully compostable bag designed to balance sustainability with everyday functionality. The project grew out of the need to rethink everyday products that often create long-term waste despite short-term use. Plastic and synthetic bags continue to dominate daily life but their environmental footprint is huge.

Our goal was to design something durable enough for everyday use, while ensuring that once the product reached the end of its lifecycle, it could safely return to the earth with no negative impact.

Fabric Research

The research focused on alternative materials that could provide strength, flexibility and sustainability. We investigated a wide range of natural and experimental fabrics including mango leather, fish leather, mushroom leather, cork, jute and hemp.

The challenge was to balance environmental responsibility with usability. Some materials scored highly on sustainability but lacked strength while others were durable but difficult to source. This comparative study helped us narrow down the materials that could realistically work for a compostable yet practical bag.

Ideation & Development

After evaluating our material options, we decided to move forward with jute. It offered the right balance of strength, availability and compostability.

The design process began with sketching different bag forms, testing proportions, ergonomics and functionality. Once we had a direction, we shifted focus to material experimentation, particularly exploring how jute could be naturally dyed without chemicals. We tested hemp fibers alongside jute, boiling the fabrics with natural pigments like coffee, fruit juices and vegetable extracts to achieve subtle, earthy tones.

EarthLoop

EarthLoop

The final EarthLoop bag was made from natural fibers that degrade completely at the end of life, closing the material loop. Its simple form was designed to meet everyday needs while reinforcing the value of responsible product cycles.

Beefficient

SoliGrill