“We Harvest Wind” is an interactive installation created by Swedish electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Polestar and the Woven Studio of awareness artist Thijs Biersteker. During the creation, a new, fully biodegradable corn-based adhesive was developed, which has shown the potential to become a future component in Polestar cars.

The We Harvest Wind sculpture is three metres in diameter, featuring a collection of blades that spin around a central spiral. In selecting a material for the blades, the team initially explored the use of Bcomp powerRibs together with a natural fiber and polypropylene (NFPP) board – the same flax-based composite material featured extensively on the Polestar Precept concept car.

However, the team would like to explore a series of more sustainable, biodegradable resins. “This collaboration has kick-started several initiatives within the team at Polestar and cemented some ongoing studies we have with Bcomp. Now we are hoping to implement a fully bio-based solution, with powerRibs and bio-sourced polypropylene, in the future production of Polestar cars,” said Ross Kelk, Chief Engineer of Interiors at Polestar UK R&D.

Thijs Biersteker stated, “We made the blades in the sculpture from 3D printed recycled PET plastic, and the outer wings were made with the flax-based structure and a new eco-friendly and corn-based resin – a combination of materials which was developed during the project. We developed a composite between the flax and polylactic acid (PLA), which is basically a biopolymer that is biodegradable and made of corn.”