SUSTAINABLE PLANTABLE SPARKLERS

DEMONSTRATION

BRIEF

Redesign a common unsustainable product that offsets or reduces its environmental impact.

UNSUSTAINABLE CELEBRATIONS

Fireworks are products that have always been produced without the consideration of the environment. This is the cause for tons of greenhouse gasses released every holiday. Celebrations with fireworks are deeply rooted in tradition, so I searched for products that are produced alternative to the common sparkler and fireworks.

CURRENT MARKET

Iron Rod Sparklers are unrecyclable and produce waste which often ends up in the ocean as heavy metals. They also release excessive amounts of toxic gases and greenhouse gases.

CARBON

Carbon is a good fertilizer that promotes growth as it is an essential nutrient that improves the photosynthesis process.

KNO3

It reduces invasive fungi that can extract essential nutrients that plants need from the soil. It acts as a defense against unwanted competitors.

SURPRISING BENEFITS OF BLACK POWDER

SULFUR

A chemical powder that is useful for reducing the pH levels of soil thus helping plants absorb nutrients.

Effective Soil Support

DESIGN OPPORTUNITY

Most mainstream sparklers’ materials use non-biodegradable material that produced toxic gasses in our atmosphere. These products can pose a significant fire risk, leading to wildfires that cause ecological damage even within storage. There are no sparklers that are designed to reduce impact when black powder acts as a good fertilizer.

INSPIRATIONS

Technologies to Incorporate

SEEDED PAPER

Seed paper is an eco-friendly type of paper embedded with seeds that can be planted in soil. When planted, the paper breaks down and the seeds germinate, allowing for a beautiful display of flowers, herbs, or vegetables to grow from the paper.

PAPER PACKED POWDER

These sparklers are wrapped in foil and paper, and they wrap around black powder and a stick. This helps to maintain the shape and not hinder the ignition or sustain.

WOODEN STICK SPARKLERS

The sticks from an original style of old sparkler types. This can be replaced for more sustainable materials.

CONCEPT

Paper Based Compostable/Recyclable/Plantable Sparkler

Seeds rolled within the stick

Naturally dyed colors

Black powder packed into the bulb

Compostable Paper

Black Powder Composition

RESEARCHING PRIMARY COMPONENTS

What My Sparkler is Made Of

Tiny Seeds

PAPER RESEARCH

Compostable Papers

DENKAP THIN

There are lots of strong branching from the sparkler that allows for a spectacular display but it is short lived.

MULBERRY STANDARD

This paper is produced through the bark of the tree, and it is extremely thin. This provides the strongest sparks and the longest showing of it.

KOZO SHI

This paper give a good display but it is a little thicker than the previous papers causing it to struggle to maintain a consistent burning.

MINO GAMI

There is almost no branching in this sparkler causing it to be much less effective in the demonstration of the fire, however it lasts for a long time.

SEED SPECIES RESEARCH

Tiny Seeds

MONKEY FLOWER SEEDS

This a naturally occurring seed in the state of California. It is enough for it to be rolled into the sheet of paper.

CHIA SEEDS

The chia seeds are bigger which creates a lot of issues in the construction of the sparkler.

ROMANIAN SEEDS

The seeds are small enough to be used in the sparkler easily, however, they may become invasive species in the future.

CHEMICAL RESEARCH

Black Powder Composition

POTASSIUM NITRATE

The most commonly used black powder composition, however, it does produce a decent amount of carbon emissions. It reduces fungi growth.

POTASSIUM BICARBONATE

A weak composition and shorter life span, but has a reduced emission.

SODIUM BICARBONATE

This is less environmentally friendly, but it can be much much safer for common use as it has a much much high ignition temperature than that of paper.

FINAL MAKEUP

Chosen Materials

MONKEY FLOWER SEEDS

Monkey flower seeds are native species to California and are small enough to be implanted into the rolled sheet of paper.

HOW IT WORKS

KNO3 BLK POWDER

This is the standard black powder composition, but it is surprisingly the best composition for my product.

MULBERRY PAPER

A sustainably produced paper that can is made through the bark of trees. This can be composted or planted into the ground and allow the seeds inside to sprout safely.