Plastic is arguably one of the most important and revolutionary innovations in human history. Yet, from its creation to its degradation, each step is harmful to the environment.

With the urgency of the climate crisis constantly reiterated to us, artist Jessie French is playing an active part in how we can slowly move away from plastic in favour of the algae-based biopolymers she developed.

"In my artistic practice, the urgency of sustainable methodologies is articulated through the lens of material innovation and artistic intervention. At the core, the work is about advancing a dialogue between art, sustainability, and technology – transforming traditional notions of material use in art through the adoption of sustainable, non-petrochemical materials. This is not just an artistic choice but a necessary response to our current ecological crisis."

While governments and organisations worldwide are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact, there remains a large gap in the availability of materials that can help them do so.

"Australia's strength in this area is growing, but the industry is immature, dispersed and highly specialised in non-translatable areas of innovation."

Over the last few years, global hubs in sustainable material innovation have begun to emerge, particularly in places like London and New York. In her 2023 ISSI Fellowship, Jessie travelled to the US, UK, and Europe to collaborate with and learn more from the global leaders within the sustainable materials industry. Beyond advancing knowledge in research in this young sector, Jessie will be able to identify the best practices for developing, launching, and scaling biopolymers.

The knowledge she gained from her time abroad will be implemented in her experimental design studio, Other Matter. Founded in 2021, Other Matter manifests Jessie's commitment to sustainability by developing real-world applications for the algae-based plastics first developed in her artistic practice.

"The studio is not only a site of production but also a hub for rigorous material testing and research, done in collaboration with a network of esteemed partners. These collaborations are vital, providing both the empirical backbone to our material innovations and a critical external perspective on our environmental claims."

"This collaborative framework not only amplifies my studio's capabilities but also embeds the practices within a broader discourse on sustainability, challenging and expanding the boundaries of what artistic practice can contribute to ecological conversations."

Currently, Jessie is in the early stages of plans to scale up the production of the algae-based material to enhance its availability for use in real-world projects.

Follow Jessie French on Instagram.

Keep up with Other Matter’s projects.