BioLabel

︎ Creator: Anika Gupta        
︎ Supervisor: Peter Yeadon


The original idea was to develop a silicon alternative that could form a flexible chainmail, one that would stretch under normal use but stiffen when pressure was applied. My first iteration of the recipe was made as a sheet material. Once the ingredient combination showed the qualities I was aiming for, I moved on to creating strings by extruding the mixture through a syringe into a calcium chloride bath. While the strings looked promising at first, they eventually flattened and hardened over time. Sheets placed in the calcium chloride bath reacted the same way.

Another attempt involved drying the original sheet in a dehydrator. Although the result was flexible, it lost all of its initial transparency because the tapioca starch settled and pooled at the bottom. This pointed toward a need to adjust the ratio specifically, to increase the glycerol and reduce the tapioca starch. I produced a new batch and dried samples both in air and in the dehydrator. The dehydrated samples behaved similarly to previous ones, but the air-dried samples developed a tacky side that adhered easily to a range of materials. That unexpected property became the foundation for what eventually evolved into Bio Label.

Bio Label is a pressure-based, reusable adhesive surface that can be applied to glass, plastic, metal, wood, and more. Its unique sticking ability positions it as a sustainable alternative to the petroleum-based vinyls commonly used in marketing and signage.

Bio Label dissolves completely in water, meaning it can be disposed of in a sink without leaving harmful residue. Its ingredients, sodium alginate, glycerol, tapioca starch, and natural pigments such as turmeric, spirulina, and ochre rouge are all safe for the water system.

Storefronts can use Bio Label in place of traditional vinyls for temporary installations during sales or festivals. The material is easy to cut and shape, making it highly customizable, and it holds ink well enough for printing more complex graphics. Because it doesn’t rely on permanent adhesives, it peels off cleanly without residue, making it simple to reposition or replace.

Bio Label can also serve as a dissolvable label for glass containers used by small businesses with local shipping ranges. When washed, either by hand or in a dishwasher, the label dissolves completely, allowing the containers to be reused with minimal effort. Material protocols are below ...