Bumble bees and monarch butterflies depend on milkweed for pollination and reproduction.  Removal of invasive weeds using chemicals and tools has driven milkweed out, damaging both these insects’ population and the local ecology.

Steamtank has tapped local volunteer and enthusiast organizations to return the plant to its rightful home. Our pilot program will harvest invasive weeds as usable materials and re-plant milkweed by hand.

This initiative is poised to spark a grassroots “guerilla gardening” movement and provoke long-term community engagement.

R&D founded on work with natural materials and upcycled plastics. Evaluating refuse for functional value is a key first step. When we break down trash to the material elements, we see the potential for transformation. Materials introduced as valuable should stay that way.
Steamtank has engaged a team of engineers and designers to help launch this multi year initiative. Exploration of material application is underway.

Reclaiming waste is the first step towards a circular economy. Discarded plastic litters beautiful beaches around the world, but STEAMtank sees this as an opportunity.

In collaboration with 5Gyres and Swift Engineering, we’ve developed a kiln and molds for melting and forming this plastic into durable local goods. Even the least-desirable plastic is used. Portable and easily deployed, the complete system fits into a suitcase.