Sebastian Fältström

Over one thousand tons of wool are discarded annually in Sweden. My degree project explores wool’s remarkable properties and its potential to cleanse the Baltic Sea from oil and heavy metals, transforming an underused resource into a sustainable solution.

I have carefully studied wool fibres, examining their structure on both macro and micro levels, to create two-meter-high Macro Fibres—oil absorbents specifically designed for marinas. These absorbers capture oil at all depths, adapting to varying environmental conditions. As oil density changes with fluctuations in water and air temperature, it can sink to different levels, but the Macro Fibres are designed to efficiently absorb oil across the entire water column.

Drawing inspiration from the epidermal scales on hair fibres, I’ve enlarged their structure to improve absorption. As a design decision, I incorporated a colour scheme from a non-toxic Swedish nudibranch, which mimics toxicity to deter predators. This natural warning system enhances the design, making Macro Fibres both functional and visually eye-catching.