2023

ALICIA VALDÉS: FROM FOOD WASTE TO GARMENT

The project „From Food Waste to Garment“ evolves around the investigation of integrating non-avoidable domestic food waste into leather-like biomaterial for clothing production. The biggest shortcoming of biomaterials currently on the market is their relative lack of waterproofness. This research focusses on making the material water-resistant and durable whilst remaining 100% biodegradable and compostable.

Upcycling unavoidable food waste from households and restaurants, such as egg and orange peelings and coffee grounds, into a bio-based leather alternative can ultimately be made into clothing. The food scraps are dried and pulverised and then added to the self-developed biomaterial based on pectin and cellulose, which is then poured into large boxes built for this purpose and dried with solar radiation. Natural fabrics such as silk or organic cotton are used as a carrier material for the mixture. 

Many companies solve the problem of water repellency by adding polyurethane (PU). The material developed in this work does not require the addition of plastic. And by crosslinking and subsequent coating with oil and wax, a material was created, that is water-repellent and thus suitable for everyday use.