Waste To Resource
by Xavier Tafft
Waste to Resource jewellery platter highlighting the glamour of jewellery
Project Description
Waste to resource is a project that created a bio-composite using tea waste and natural additives. It was created to utilise the existing waste resources found within Australia with the intent of adding knowledge to the growing field of bio-composite creation. Its overall goal was to create an alternative to traditional material creation and shift the value chain from extraction and landfill to recovery and decomposition.
My bio-composite is made using 3 cups of tea waste, 12 tbs of CMC Cellulose, Agar Agar and Calcium Caseinate, 6 tbs of Locust bean powder and 1.5 tsp of Xanthan powder mixed with 5 cups of water. This recipe uses all natural additives, allowing for a complete decomposition of products made using this material at the end of its life cycle.
The material was used for the creation of a fruit bowl and jewellery bowl, as the dark colour of the material emphasises the bright coloured objects they are designed to support. In addition, it brings a unique rough but smooth texture and a faint aroma of tea, helping to create new sensory experiences within these household contexts.
A potential future commercial application of the material is the replacement of plant pots. Tea waste’s main application within Australia is as a fertiliser on tea plantations. My material, if turned into pots, will allow a user to plant the pot directly in the ground, after which it will decompose and act as a fertiliser for the plant.
Waste to Resource fruit bowl displaying fruit
Using negative space to create a fruit bowl to maximise material usage
A complex curved form made using additive manufacturing techniques and the Waste to Resource material
Waste to Resource: potential application as a plantable pot
Bio
I am a product designer who focuses on the physical application and creation of design. I thrive on developing concepts and making the transition from concept to a physical object. I do this through model making and CAD, using a range of tools and materials. My work has a high focus on user centered design and accessibility, creating usable and enjoyable products. I am also interested in at-home construction and the creation of new sustainable materials for designers to use and experiment with to help in the transition towards a more sustainable system of manufacturing within Australia and a wider global context.
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