Chinese cabbage, coffee grounds, lemon peels and banana peels: what do they have to do with architecture? Apparently, a lot. Kota Machida and Yuya Sakai, researchers from the University of Tokyo, founded Fabula Inc. This start-up exploits food waste and earth products that, due to their defects, cannot end up on supermarket counters. Thanks to this process, they produce building materials that are four times more resistant than concrete! For example, a 5 mm plate made from Chinese cabbage scraps can support a weight of 30 kg.
The technological process involves the drying of food waste. Then, these are reduced to powder and hot pressed into a mould, creating compact tiles. By changing the drying method, the powder reduction or the temperature, materials of different colors are obtained, with various textures and particular aromas.
The impact of Fabula’s invention on architecture and on our Planet is evident. On the one hand, it would limit the huge amount of food wasted every day. On the other hand, building buildings with a completely edible material would have significant advantages on the environmental impact. In fact, it is a 100% natural material, so much so that it can be eaten, as the founders of Fabula write on their website.
The two Japanese researchers suggest the use of this material in areas affected by environmental disasters or war zones. In case of emergency, people could eat the completely edible furniture made with Fabula materials.
Currently, the disposal of food waste generates CO2 and ashes. With this invention, CO2 production would be greatly reduced. This material is currently pending a patent from the Institute of Industrial Sciences at the University of Tokyo.
Discover the architecture for the 5 senses of Kino – Taste
