Composting lexicon

The afterlife of a material refers to the stages and processes it undergoes after its initial used. With the focus on composting the aim is to enrich the soil and avoid the negative impact disposal has on the natural environment.

The afterlife of a material refers to the stages and processes it undergoes after its participation in a designed form. In the context of compostable materials, the focus is on returning materials to the ecosystem, transforming waste into nourishment. Designing for the afterlife avoids harmful disposal and supports ecological regeneration.

Describes a material's ability to break down naturally through the action of microorganisms and other decomposers. Biodegradable materials return to the earth as part of natural cycles, leaving no toxic residues and helping to reduce long-term environmental impact.

The lab at the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe where students can go to develop and experiment with biomaterials.

A creative and experimental space at the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe where students engage with living systems and biomaterials. The lab encourages interdisciplinary exploration and hands-on material research focused on sustainability and innovation.

A material that is based on naturally produced raw materials by living organisms. Biomaterials are typically renewable, biodegradable, and designed to have minimal environmental impact throughout their lifecycle.

Compost is decayed organic matter used as a natural fertiliser and soil enhancer. Unlike synthetic fertilisers, it nourishes plants indirectly by sustaining soil microbes like bacteria, fungi, and worms. This natural recycling process enriches the soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties.

Compost is organically transformed matter that enriches the soil by nourishing its living communities. This biological process improves soil structure, fertility, and biodiversity, offering a regenerative alternative to the depletion caused by synthetic fertilisers.

A bin or container used to decompose organic waste materials into nutrient rich compost through the natural process of decomposition facilitated by fungi, worms and microorganisms.

A bin or container that facilitates the decomposition of organic waste into compost. Fungi, worms, and microorganisms break down the material, transforming it into nutrient-rich soil.

Decay is the process of gradual decomposition and deterioration of organic matter, primarily through the action of bacteria, fungi, and other organisms. This process breaks down dead material, playing a crucial role in the nutrient cycle and ecosystem sustainability.

Decay has also a positive connotation when it refers to something that, while decomposing, goes back to nature and to life following a sustainable and eco-friendly process.

A natural process in which organic matter is broken down over time by decomposers such as bacteria, fungi, and insects. While often associated with deterioration or loss, decay is essential for sustaining life: it recycles nutrients, enriches soil, and supports the health of ecosystems. By returning once-living matter to the earth, decay enables the ongoing regeneration of life.

A dynamic system of living organisms like plants, animals, fungi and microbes, interacting with each other in their physical environment. Healthy ecosystems support biodiversity, regulate climate, and sustain life.

Concerned with the protection of the ecosystem in which different lifeforms coexist.

Relating to the natural world and the interconnected ecosystems in which all forms of life coexist. An environmental perspective considers the impact of human activity, emphasising interdependence, biodiversity, climate health, and the responsible care of living systems for long-term ecological balance.

A university for art and design in Karlsruhe, Germany, known for its interdisciplinary approach that connects design, art, media, and theory. It is the home and context of the Living Library project.

A list with our own definitions of the most commonly used words in the Living Library.

The Lexicon is a living collection of terms used in the Living Library, created to foster a shared language around sustainable and bioregional material practices. It supports clear communication across disciplines and reflects the evolving values, assumptions, and meanings embedded in the words we use. Like the words it names, the Lexicon will continue to grow and adapt over time.

The living library is an archive of sustainable materials that can be used for art and design practices. All materials are created using ingredients sourced within a 50-kilometer radius of the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe (HfG). These materials are designed to be fully compostable after use, ensuring an eco-friendly lifecycle.

An evolving archive of sustainable, locally sourced materials developed for art and design practices. All materials featured in the Library are sourced and created within a 50-kilometer radius of the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe (HfG) and are designed to be compostable after use.

All resources that can be found within a 50-kilometer radius around the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe.

Materials and resources sourced within a 50-kilometer radius around the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe. Grounded in the local environment, it supports a lower carbon footprint and deeper community engagement.

The most important resources that can be found outside the 50-kilometer radius around the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe.

Materials and resources sourced beyond the 50-kilometer radius around the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe. While they are less aligned with bioregional principles, they are included when no suitable local alternative exists or when they play an essential role in the making process. Their inclusion is always intentional and carefully considered.

Materials that restore, renew, or revitalise ecosystems, enhancing the capacity to support life by increasing biodiversity and improving soil health.

Describes materials or practices that actively restore and enhance ecosystems, rather than merely sustaining or extracting from them. Regenerative approaches support the Earth’s capacity to sustain life by improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, and contributing to long-term ecological resilience and renewal.

Soil is the top layer of the Earth’s surface composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water and air. It serves as a medium for plant growth, a habitat for organisms, and plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling and water filtration.

The upper layer of the Earth composed of minerals, organic matter, water, and air. It supports plant life, hosts countless organisms, and plays a key role in nutrient cycling and water purification.

All resources that can be found within and closely around the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe.

Refers to resources sourced directly from the immediate surroundings of the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe. These materials often require no transportation, are sometimes gathered by hand, and offer the lowest environmental footprint. Super local sourcing supports transparency, traceability, and a deep connection to place.

A material or process that promotes the long-term conservation of ecological balance by minimising the environmental impact. Sustainable materials derive from natural resources and renewable raw materials.

Describes materials and processes that maintain ecological balance by minimizing environmental harm. Sustainable practices favor renewable, biodegradable, or recyclable resources and aim for longevity and reduced waste.