Imagine a world and economy where entire products are almost completely biodegradable. This may not be the Rotterdam-based design studio Noktutu’s intention with the Moss Clock, but it’s certainly an ecologically-sustainable benefit of its materials and construction.
The Moss Clock is a handmade item containing the tops of real reindeer moss, an indigenous lichen from the arctic regions of Norway. Noktutu say that they “meticulously selected” the reindeer moss by hand and preserved it. They then fitted the moss into a handcrafted frame made out of Baltic birch plywood, which they shaped into a circle using the steam-bending technique. The clock hands are also made out of the Baltic birch plywood, while the clock’s gears and mechanisms (from what we can see) are either metal and plastic.
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The idea, according to Noktutu, is to bring nature into the home and make it a discussion piece. As beautiful and simple as the Moss Clock is, it also sets in relief how much of our products are made to be junked and thrown in landfills. Hopefully it will serve as an inspiration to other product designers.
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