When it comes to a light meal, Victor Vetterlein's "BITE ME" desk lamp has got you covered. The body of the brightly colored creation is made from bio-plastic that can be safely consumed at the end of its useful life. If eating lamps doesn't start your digestive juices flowing, the frame can also be thrown in the compost. Either way, the rather attractive electronics strip can be peeled away from the body and re-used elsewhere.
Vetterlein's design was inspired by a book by E.S. Stevens (a Professor of Chemistry at the State University of New York) entitled Green Plastics - An Introduction to the New Science of Biodegradable Plastics. The lamp's body is made from a mix of agar, vegetable glycerin, purified water, food coloring and orange, cherry, blueberry or apple organic extract flavoring. It comes with an adhesive LED lighting strip that is positioned on the inside face of the lamp, with the LEDs to the top.
The electrical power to the LED circuit board comes courtesy of two sheet metal strips between two clear plastic sheets. The metal has been laser-cut to form script lettering that describes the lamp and lists the ingredients of the bio-plastic frame. The lamp is supplied with two power cords – one that connects to a low voltage power converter and another that plugs into a computer.
When BITE ME is no longer the pride of your desk, the designer recommends cleaning the bio-plastic frame with organic soap and water before submerging it in water for at least an hour. Once sufficiently softened, the flavored frame can then be eaten.
Vetterlein also points out that agar is low in sodium, and a good source of vitamins E and K, as well as pantothenic acid, zinc and copper. It's also high in folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and manganese.
At the time of writing, the BITE ME desk lamps are not available to buy. Vetterlein told us that he is hopeful that a manufacturer will take his design into production. We'll keep you posted.
Source: Victor Vetterlein
