Waste

Environmentally friendly beach accessories. They consist of mussel shells, oysters, gelatin and chitosan obtained from crab shell. The project aims to draw attention to the local problem of beach pollution in the wider context of the consequences of tourism.

According to the study “Human impacts and their interactions in the Baltic Sea region”, tourism has a negative impact on coastal zones and the sea area. As a seaside town, this problem also affects the Tri-City.

The aim of the project was to act on a small scale to a local problem, encouraging people to become familiar with the impact of tourism on the environment. The problem we drew attention to is leaving plastic beach accessories during rest.

The project consists of three molds for cupcakes made of sand and a spatula. They include mussel shells, gelatin and chitosan obtained from crab shells. Oyster and mussel shells allow you to achieve many color variants. Molds and a spatula are intended to encourage the expansion of knowledge about marine ecology, even for the youngest users. We wanted to use waste related to tourism and the sea, so we looked for seaside restaurants – closely related to tourism.

Biomaterial accessories do not pollute the beaches. Abandoned, they will decompose without negative effects on the marine ecosystem.

By experimenting with historical recipes and proportions, we created organic facade materials. These plasters and paints are safe for humans and the environment. They are suitable for both exterior and interior use.

The construction industry is responsible for one-third of the world's waste and a staggering 40% of CO2 emissions. Industrial paints and plasters are the second-largest contributor to ocean pollution with microplastics. While these statistics are concerning, they can also serve as motivation to take action. Our team has created organic paints and plasters from waste materials.

We began our project by researching archival recipes for building facades. We adapted them to meet modern needs, drawing inspiration from history. By sourcing local waste, we were able to create materials with a variety of colors that harmonize with the surroundings.

For the production of plasters and paints, we utilized brick fragments and shells from the "Gambas" restaurant, eggshells, and stalks from the "Bromex" factory. Other ingredients include casein, sand, glycerin, clay, and ash.

This project combines the past with the present and responds to environmental changes. Creating natural finishing materials is an experiment and a search for simple solutions to a complex problem.

By experimenting with historical recipes and proportions, we created organic facade materials. These plasters and paints are safe for humans and the environment. They are suitable for both exterior and interior use.

The construction industry is responsible for one-third of the world's waste and a staggering 40% of CO2 emissions. Industrial paints and plasters are the second-largest contributor to ocean pollution with microplastics. While these statistics are concerning, they can also serve as motivation to take action. Our team has created organic paints and plasters from waste materials.

We began our project by researching archival recipes for building facades. We adapted them to meet modern needs, drawing inspiration from history. By sourcing local waste, we were able to create materials with a variety of colors that harmonize with the surroundings.

For the production of plasters and paints, we utilized brick fragments and shells from the "Gambas" restaurant, eggshells, and stalks from the "Bromex" factory. Other ingredients include casein, sand, glycerin, clay, and ash.

This project combines the past with the present and responds to environmental changes. Creating natural finishing materials is an experiment and a search for simple solutions to a complex problem.

The project of a disposable plate is an attempt to repurpose bakery waste in a different way and create a disposable dish in a simple manner. Plastic plates are used briefly and then discarded. Bread leftovers can be a valuable raw material for producing ecological utensils instead of ending up in landfills.

Bread is one of the most wasted food products in Polish households. In the case of bakery or store-bought bread that is not suitable for sale, the most common way to manage it is by producing animal feed. However, bakery waste can be processed and reused. The project of a disposable plate serves as an example of practical utilization of bread leftovers, extending its usability.

Bioplastic helps solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by traditional non-biodegradable plastics that persist in the environment for many years. Utensils made from this material can inspire manufacturers of various kitchenware and accessories to seek alternative solutions that are environmentally friendly. The raw material was sourced from a local bakery in the Tricity area. By combining the waste with casein glue derived from milk, a malleable mass is formed, which, upon drying, becomes a durable bioplastic. During the production process, the bioplastic is heated and then molded into the desired shape. A plate made from bioplastic can serve as an alternative to plastic plates used in the food industry or for outdoor dining experiences surrounded by nature.

The design of biodegradable pots made of ash is a proposal for a more eco-friendly alternative to plastic pots. Plants in this pot will gain valuable fertilizer, as the pot starts to decompose. The project is also an attempt to solve the problem of wood ash in households.

Wood ash is used in horticulture because of its nutritional properties. Potassium, phosphorus and calcium are solid components of ash, depending on the type of wood being burned. The design of biodegradable pots was created after taking into account these properties.

In Poland, it is estimated that the mass of ash produced from domestic furnaces is 2 million tonnes per year*, i. e. about 140 Olympic pools filled with ash during the year.

The pot design aims not only to use unwanted ash but also to show an eco-friendly alternative to plastic pots. In addition, every plant planted in such a pot receives fertilizer.

* statement by the chairman of the Regional Council of the Municipal Waste Processing Installation, Piotr Szewczyk (2019)

Each individual sponge is made from the peel of a whole orange and incorporates other readily available ingredients such as starch, gelatin, and glycerin. The cleaning properties of the material are attributed to active components naturally present in orange peels.

In 2021, oranges were the third most consumed fruit, right after apples and bananas. Oranges are becoming increasingly popular, even though they are not a traditional ingredient in Polish cuisine. Due to their content of organic acids, essential oils, and preservatives, their peels should not be composted locally. Our project utilizes waste from restaurants to produce eco-friendly sponges for household use.

Commonly available dishwashing sponges often contain synthetic fibers that release microplastics during use. After being used, they are not suitable for recycling or composting and end up in landfills or incinerators.

The project is based on traditional methods of dishwashing, such as using sand, ash, and potato peel broth with herbs, which were commonly used in Poland even until the 1950s. The developed material includes orange peels as well as natural ingredients like starch, gelatin, and glycerin. The cleaning properties of the material are provided by d-limonene and citric acid, which are naturally present in orange peels. Product offers an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic counterparts while participating in waste reduction.

Each of us buys food in disposable plastic containers practically every day. The idea of the project is to utilize nutshells and create a material suitable for the production of disposable packaging.

Every day, we purchase food in disposable plastic packaging. After consumption, these containers end up in the trash or on the streets. Can we replace conventional disposable packaging with a material derived from bio-waste?

Wood and nutshells have a very similar chemical composition, including a comparable amount of cellulose. Idea is to utilize nutshells as a material for producing biodegradable disposable packaging. Currently, nutshells are often used as fuel for heating production halls in biogas plants. Our concept gives nutshells a second life before they are incinerated.

The material is made from walnut and hazelnut shells, along with a natural adhesive based on soy protein. However, our work is not done. We still need to analyze and investigate various aspects, such as the impact of the material on the nuts inside the packaging or the precise calculation of the cost-effectiveness of producing such packaging on an industrial scale.

In times of energy and climate crisis, the availability of coal is becoming less obvious. In search of alternatives, we have designed a homemade briquette press and developed a grill burning mixture based on avocado pits.

Grilling is a national sport for Poles. As soon as the days become longer and the sun starts shining, we can observe groups of people grilling on every corner – in parks, beaches, and by lakes. Given the current high exploitation of coal in Poland, which negatively affects the environment through mining and combustion, we aim to reverse this situation even in a small percentage and show that grilling without coal and toxic fire starters is possible.

We have noticed that avocado pits, which are not commonly recycled, have a significant energy potential due to their high-fat content. We have obtained them from a local restaurant and used other organic waste, including leaves, as fillers. By combining these waste materials with a starch-based adhesive derived from potato peels, we have created briquettes.

Creating briquettes from these ingredients would reduce the consumption of coal during grilling and minimize the emission of harmful substances that can settle on the grilled food. It would be an environmentally friendly product made from local waste, promoting health due to lower emissions of harmful substances and eliminating the need for toxic fire starters.