Coffee powder reused as a composite material

Abstract

This project was set within the discipline ofIndustrial Design from the Masters in Industrial and ProductDesign first year of the Faculties of Engineering and Fine Arts ofthe University of Porto. The main objective was the creation ofone or more objects from the reuse of wasted materials in themunicipality of Matosinhos, in Porto, Portugal. It was alsonecessary to take into account the low cost of creations in anattempt to generate profit for the poorest communities in theregion.Based on data provided by the International CoffeeOrganization, it is estimated that its overall consumption in 2014was 149.8 million bags of 60 kg [5]. In the case of Portugal, in thesame year, were consumed 823,000 which represent a per capitaconsumption of around 4.7 kg [6]. According to the same source,the annual coffee demand from 2011 to 2014 increased by 2.4%.It is noted further that this increase is gradual, being registeredevery year. It is therefore plausible to deduce that this tendencywill continue in the near future.This theme has emerged as a way to fight this problemthrough design. The research developed aims to present aproduction method for reuse ground coffee leftovers. The maingoal to be achieved is to obtain a moldable material, composed bycoffee grounds and a suitable binder found through testing andresearch. It is also intended that the material created is durableand washable, with prospects of extending the realities in which itcan be used.Through a Designers point of view, the composite materialdeveloped within this mixture can be used in a variety ofproducts, from simple coffee table tops to light emitting objectswith original effects, the options are vast and abundant.This work presents the results of tests done with the differentmixtures seeking to obtain the desired material. As long as themixture is moldable almost every imaginable object can beproduced by casting it in a mold produced in different materials.