Kosuke Araki turns food waste into tableware

Tokyo-based designer Kosuke Araki has created a range of tableware from recycled food waste.

The Anima collection features a series of cups, plates and bowls, which Araki made by combining carbonised vegetable waste and "animal glue", from the bones and skin of animal offcuts.

Araki designed the collection to demonstrate the alternatives to throwing away food waste, which is often disposed of in landfills.

"Every day, food waste is produced at a huge industrial scale, as well as a small domestic scale," said Araki.

"Although some of it is processed into something useful, most is disposed of in landfills contributing to environmental problems," he explained.

To create the items Araki collected and recorded the amount of non-ediblefood waste – including rind, peel, calyxes, shells and bones – produced in his house for two years. The total amount weighed 315 kilograms.

He burnt the vegetable waste until it became charcoal, and boiled the animal bones and skin into a glueing agent to mould the charcoal into shape.

Finally, a thick layer of urushi, a type of Japanese black lacquer, was used to coat the products. "[This] gives not only practical strength but also depth and a polish," said Araki.

"Urushi craft historically has a close relationship with food leftovers of a meal," he said. "For example, rice, tofu or albumen is mixed with urushi to adjust its viscosity for making sticky glue."

Anima is on show at Food Revolution 5.0 Design for the Society of Tomorrow at Kunstgewebemuseum in Berlin between 18 May and 30 September

Several designers are now taking to using unusual materials in their products. Examples include Roza Janusz who made an alternative to plastic food packaging, using a combination of bacteria and yeast, while a team of UK scientists have developed a biodegradable construction material made from desert sand.

Our most popular newsletter, formerly known as Dezeen Weekly. Sent every Thursday and featuring a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Plus occasional updates on Dezeen’s services and breaking news.

Sent every Tuesday and containing a selection of the most important news highlights. Plus occasional updates on Dezeen’s services and breaking news.

A daily newsletter containing the latest stories from Dezeen.

Daily updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news.

Weekly updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news.

News about our Dezeen Awards programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates.

News from Dezeen Events Guide, a listings guide covering the leading design-related events taking place around the world. Plus occasional updates.

News about our Dezeen Awards China programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates.

We will only use your email address to send you the newsletters you have requested. We will never give your details to anyone else without your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email, or by emailing us at [email protected].

For more details, please see our privacy notice.

You will shortly receive a welcome email so please check your inbox.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every newsletter.

Lab La Bla uses "hyper-ordinary materials" for energy ...

Mitsubishi Jisho Design creates food-waste teahouse in Venice

Eight furniture pieces and products made from sustainable ...

Allbirds creates "world's first net-zero carbon shoe" using ...

Ten sustainable fashion designs that use biomaterials from ...

Vestre launches "world's first" furniture made from ...

Natural Material Studio drapes floor-to-ceiling biotextiles ...

"Build empathy with users" says industrial designer Ayse Birsel

Visit our comments page | Read ourcomments policy