Straw seat a natural development

A children’s seat made from completely biodegradable material, which literally sprouts and grows at the end of its life, is now a reality.

The award-winning stool is made from wheat starch, water, vinegar, glycerol, pea straw and grass seeds.

Once it reaches the end of its life, the Kids Straw Stool can be placed into nature to biodegrade, with the pea straw and grass seeds sprouting new life.

The stool is the brainchild of Dale Hardiman, an RMIT University student who won $2,500 for his idea after the stool was a runner-up in a leading national design competition.

Hardiman says the ingredients cost $21. The four key parts of the stool need to be cooked using a saucepan and oven.

“This chair is a case of cook, sit, biodegrade and grow. This helps promote health in the land. It biodegrades outdoors in five to six weeks and is ideal for children up to 10 years old,” he says.

Hardiman says as the population increases, the need for children’s furniture will also increase.

“Being able to… cook your children’s furniture in the house removes all transport and waste material. The entire lifecycle of the product stays within a single location,” he says.

Perhaps Hardiman is on to something. Is biodegradable furniture the way of the future?