Source: earthtechling.com
Published: December 4, 2012
You know that scene in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory where the golden-ticket holders step inside the waterfall room and Wonka tells them everything they see is edible? (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, your homework is to read more Roald Dahl.) That’s kind of the feeling I get when looking at this fully edible LED desk lamp.
Dubbed the “Bite Me”, this lamp’s name is both a clever play on words and simple instructions. Designed by Victor Vetterlein, the fully biodegradable materials used to make this unusual light fixture were inspired a reading of the book Green Plastics – An Introduction to the New Science of Biodegradable Plastics. When the lamp has outlived its usefulness (or you forgot to pack a lunch), it can be consumed while the electronic components are reserved for future reuse.
So what makes it possible to eat this desk-top lamp without taking a trip to the emergency room? Well, the Bite Me is made of biodegradable plastic derived from vegetable glycerin and agar, a gelatin that comes from sea algae. The LED light-source is attached to a clear plastic adhesive strip, with electricity conducted to the top by laser-cut metal lines that spell out the name of the product and its ingredients, according to Dezeen. Each Bite Me lamp comes with two electric cords, one that connects to the low voltage power converter and another that plugs into a computer.
Image via Victor Vetterlein
If the lamp becomes damaged, simply wipe off any dust or fingerprint residue and submerge the Bite Me in purified water for an hour to soften up. “The consistency after soaking the lamp in water for an hour is like wet Gummy Bears,” says Vetterlein. Flavors are color-coded: orange, cherry, blueberry and apple. Of course, if you don’t fancy the idea of enjoying an appliance for lunch, the lamp can also be safely added to any compost pile.