[DEBATE] Rethinking Bio Waste – Embracing Uncertainty in Local Biomaterial Production

image: cc Dietmar Rabich

What happens when we shift from industrial control to ecological complexity?

Working with bio waste streams introduces layers of unpredictability, transformation, and possibility. Unlike standardized production, local and small-scale systems demand flexibility, creativity, and new forms of collaboration.

What to Expect ? 

Join us for an open conversation drawing from years of hands-on experimentation with local bio-based production systems. Together with practitioners who are building alternative infrastructures, we’ll explore the scale, scope, and ethics of working with what industry often calls "waste."

Eugenia Morpurgo will guide you through a conversation with Jasper Van der Linden (BC Materials) and Ngaire Takano (Fibershed Belgium). 

About Eugenia Morpurgo 

Italian designer researching the impact that production processes have on society, with a focus on investigating and prototyping alternative scenarios and products. She works on self-initiated and commissioned projects by companies, cultural institutions, universities and Fablabs, with a focus on developing open source and technology-appropriate solutions. She has a BA Industrial Design at the Iuav University of Venice and a MA in in Social Design at the Design Academy Eindhoven (2011). Since September 2014 she has been lecturer at the Free University of Bozen in Bolzano, Italy, ENSAD - École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and currently at NABA - Nuova Accademia delle Belle Arti in Milan.

Her work has been exhibited at the MAXXI National Museum of the 21st Century Arts in Rome, the Triennale Museum in Milan, Total Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul, Textile Arts Center in New York City and Z33 House for Contemporary in Hasselt Belgium, amongst others. 

Eugenia has been Italian Fellow in Design 2019/2020 at the American Academy in Rome, Spatial Fellow 2020/2021 at Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, and Head Mentor at dieDAS Design Akademie Saaleck for the years 2021 and 2022.

She is currently running her studio and being a PhD student at the IUAV University of Architecture in Venice, Italy.

BC Materials 

"BC materials is a workers' cooperative founded in October 2018 by Ken De Cooman, Nicolas Coeckelberghs, Laurens Bekemans & Wes Degreef, with the mission to spread & grow earth construction as one of the most important solutions to counter the enormous environmental impact of the construction sector."

Fibershed Belgium 

Fibershed Belgium aspires to connect industry, farmers, crafters and consumers to support local fiber (wool and linen) and dyeing process. We will to bring 3 areas within Belgium together so there is a strong sense of community whilst also sharing knowledge, building collaborations with an overarching focus on the deeper respect for our environment. Yet alone we cannot achieve this without the support of our close neighbours within Europe and wider areas."

Practical Info

• Date: July 3, 2025
• Time: 20:00-21:30 
• Location: Timelab, Kogelstraat 34, 9000 Gent
• Registration: Recommended
• Fee: €15
• Language: English

Who is it for?

Anyone curious about sustainable design, regenerative systems, circular materials, or local production. Whether you're a maker, policy thinker, researcher, or just waste-curious — this conversation is for you.

Sign up 

We only have a limited number of spots! Sign up in time. 
Questions? Feel free to reach out to us at team@timelab.org.

Can't wait 

If you’re already eager to dive deeper into Eugenia’s thinking on how we can challenge current production systems together, take a look at the blog post she wrote for Timelab.

Critical Biomass 

This event is part of our public program, shaped by the ongoing journey of Critical Biomass. Curious to see where it leads next? Come join us for more moments like this!

[WORKSHOP] 7th of June -  Living Organisms in Material Production - by Lara Campos
[MASTERCLASS] Fiber Values: Understanding Classifications of Natural Fibers beyond Monoculture 
[DEBATE] Rethinking Bio Waste – Embracing Uncertainty in Local Biomaterial Production with Eugenia Morpurgo, Fibershed Belgium, BC Materials 
[BOOK BRUNCH] "Fieldwork for Future Ecologies" (2022) - with Tique art space for books 
[EXCURSION] Loos-en-Gohelle (France)
[SUMMERCAMP] Fiber Fever 2025: Dialogues