BLIMEY! ALGAVODKA

Collaborative project between MA Biodesign x LVMH

2020

ALGAVODKA is the product of a regenerative system whereby fishing fleets harvest environmentally destructive algal blooms across the globe, restoring local ecosystems and producing limited edition vodka runs to be enjoyed worldwide. The excess algal biomass is upcycled back into the circular system to create pigments and cardboard for the products’ packaging.

^{Winner of the ‘One Nature, One Future’ Collaboration with LVMH

Exhibited at IUCN World Conservation Congress 2021, in Marseille, France}^{Exhibited at COP26, SHE Changes Climate}

^{Regenerative System Design | 100% Pure Algae Vodka | Innovation X Integration}

ALGAVODKA

^{click to watch video}

ALGAE

Algae play a critical role in aquatic ecosystems, converting sunlight into energy for all aquatic organisms. But causes ranging from pollution, climate change, and agricultural runoff contribute to the over-growth of algae, eventually causing the collapse of local waterbodies. This process known as eutrophication has huge repercussions: environmentally, economically, and socially.

Traditional vodka production relies upon these intensive farming practices, demanding high water usage, intensive synthetic chemical usage and vast land requirements. These demands are already causing the agricultural industry much suffering, and climate change is only exacerbating these problems.

ALGAVODKA asks: is there an alternative to traditional intensive monocultural practices and could it be regenerative?

^{Growing three strains of algae on my windowsill during lockdown}

^{Microscopic Image of algae strain Parachlorella kessleri x20 mag}

PROCEDURE

Many strains of algae have a high fermentable sugar content. This sugar can be fermented and distilled into high grade vodka following a simple scientific protocol.

This procedure is the foundation of a wider, closed-loop system shown below, where outputs (excess algal biomass) become useful byproducts (pigments, packaging, and inks) that are re-integrated into the final product.

REGENERATIVE SYSTEM DESIGN

^{Handmade algae paper}

^{Inks extracted from locally foraged algae strains}

^{Algae based bioplastics and biocomposites}

But ALGAVODKA goes further to integrate this system into local economies, working with famers to use the algal biomass as fertiliser for crops, while repurposing fishing fleets to revive struggling fishing communities. Each batch of foraged algae is distilled with local ingredients, from nettles to pepper dulse, harvesting species that reflect each respective local culture.

Geolocalised limited edition vodka runs
2020: Brittany, La Cote d'Emeraude

Product Design

ALGAVODKA
Global Algal Foraging

^{100% Pure Algae Vodka
Regenerative System Design}