CoLab concludes with new resources for coastal communities

Local wool was turned into lampshades, shells into biocomposites, and plants and seaweed into handmade paper when CoLab brought coastal knowledge and design together at a daylong workshop in Strandir this summer. With the project now complete, its final publications offer practical starting points for individuals and communities interested in exploring new, sustainable uses for local bioresources.

CoLab (Coastal laboratories connecting people and nature) was led by the University Centre of the Westfjords and brought together partners from Iceland, Lithuania and Poland to explore how sustainable resource use, design and business planning can support coastal livelihoods while respecting local ecosystems and culture. Funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers through the Prosperous Future programme, the collaboration specifically involved the Vilnius Academy of Arts, the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk and Icelandic seaweed producer Fine Foods Íslandica.

A highlight of the project was the public workshop at the Sheep Farming Museum (Sauðfjársetrið) in Strandir on 9. July 2026. The event attracted participants from across Iceland and formed part of a four-day gathering of project partners in the Hólmavík area. Guided nature walks introduced participants to local plants, algae, and traditional resource use practices. Participants also explored biomaterial design in workshops with Austėja Platūkytė and Evelina Kudabaitė from the Vilnius Academy of Arts, making lampshades from local wool and biocomposites from various coastal materials. Hólmavík-based artist Rut Bjarnadóttir led a papermaking workshop using plant and seaweed biomass. More information about the workshop is available on the CoLab website.

The exchange worked in both directions: participants discovered new applications for familiar materials, while visiting practitioners learned from the community’s skills and relationship with its surroundings. As Austėja explained;

The project also produced several practical guides that help readers explore local materials, use them responsibly and develop ideas for small businesses. They are available free of charge in Icelandic, Lithuanian, Polish and English on the CoLab website:

• Sustainable Harvesting Guide: what to consider when collecting and using coastal resources.
• Recipe Depository: recipes for experimenting with materials such as wool, shells and seaweed.
• Green Techniques guide: ways to reduce the environmental impact of production.
• Business Planning Toolkit: guidance for developing a local business based on sustainable resource use.