Designer and materials researcher Karoline Healy has created new rings under her jewelry brand H2ERǴ using metals that are 'mined' by plants. This features the upcoming technology known as phytomining, which can be found in special species of plants, hyperaccumulators. They are able to suck up metals from the soil through their roots and this was used to form the sphere set into the ring.
Healy shares with Dezeen, "These plants look extraordinary. They bleed green nickel sap – nickel being a necessary element for stainless steel alloys. As a jeweler I connected the dots and thought about how it would be possible to source precious metals using biology in a renewable way, being in harmony with ecosystems, acting as a reason to clean up waste."
Plant-Mined Metal Rings
Karoline Healy Creates H2ERǴ Rings Using Phytomining Technology
Trend Themes
1. Phytomining Jewelry - Utilizing plant-based phytomining, innovative jewelry designs emerge, transforming how precious metals are sourced sustainably.
2. Eco-friendly Metal Extraction - Eco-friendly metal extraction through hyperaccumulator plants presents a revolutionary approach to harvesting valuable materials.
3. Green Nickel Sap Utilization - The intriguing use of green nickel sap from plants offers a novel material for creating durable and eco-conscious metal products.
Industry Implications
1. Jewelry Design - Jewelry design benefits from phytomining by offering a sustainable and renewable alternative to traditional metal sourcing.
2. Materials Science - Materials science explores new frontiers with phytomined metals, promoting innovations in renewable and eco-friendly material acquisition.
3. Environmental Technology - Environmental technology sees advancements with phytomining methods, enhancing efforts to clean up waste and restore ecological balance.