Barley straw as a new material for design

The project is being implemented in the southeastern Turkish province of Adıyaman (a region affected by the earthquakes in February 2023) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkey and the brewing company Anadolu Efes in partnership with the social design center MILKist. The initiative aims to explore the potential of using straw left over after harvesting barley to create a new material supply chain and generate additional income for women's cooperatives.

To obtain the material, straw is collected from producers within the Anadolu Efes agricultural network. The raw material is shredded and boiled in water with soda ash to soften and separate the plant-based fibers. After washing and splitting, the pulp is mixed in water and manually formed on screens and molds. The sheets are pressed to remove water and dried naturally. MILKist has developed a formulation without adding extra fibers or binders. Plant-based dyes, notably poppy from the Adıyaman region, can be used for coloring.

The pilot project involves 16 women from the Eliyaman and Fortuna women's cooperatives. They tested thickness, drying methods, and the application of natural colors. Cooperative members use their sewing and crafting skills to help designers adapt the material for bags, lighting fixtures, jewelry, home decor, installations, and store displays.

The project results were presented at the "Soil to Surface" exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) gallery in New York. The exposition brings together works by women from Adıyaman, Turkish designers, and the FIT community. The project is viewed as a small-scale production model moving toward commercialization, although formal tests for strength, durability, and environmental footprint have not yet been conducted.