AVOCADO SEED BIOPLASTIC
Material exploration using food waste to create bioplastics
Photography by Julia Brière
2020 | Academic | Independent project
ROLE Concept Development, Material Research, Formulation Testing, Prototyping, Performance Testing
This material driven project explores how avocado pits can be transformed from food waste into bioplastics. Discarded pits typically end up in landfills, where their slow decomposition releases methane. The work develops and tests methods for stabilizing and casting avocado-based bioplastics, documenting how changes in recipe affect flexibility, translucency, strength, and surface finish.
AWARDS Pratt Material Lab Prize, Third Place, August 2020
This material driven project explores how avocado pits can be transformed from food waste into bioplastics. Discarded pits typically end up in landfills, where their slow decomposition releases methane. The work develops and tests methods for stabilizing and casting avocado-based bioplastics, documenting how changes in recipe affect flexibility, translucency, strength, and surface finish.
PUBLICATIONS | FEATURES “Pratt Students Convert Everyday Waste into Viable Products and Materials” Metropolis Magazine, September 2020 ”Avocado Pit Bioplastic” Materiom, February 2020 ”Avocado Pit Composite” Materiom, February 2020
Avocado Pit Powder
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Bake
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Blend
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Repeat
Material performance metrics
MATERIAL BEHAVIOR STUDY
Flexibility, translucency, surface texture, odor, color, and dimensional change were recorded. Methods included bend tests, light transmission measurements, tactile inspection, and shrinkage comparisons before and after drying.
