Homegrow Plastic
Material experiments with waste plastic and coffee waste explore reuse, bioplastics and composite connections.
- My role
Independent development
- Context
Material Processes Report
- Status
Exploratory samples
- Materials
PET · coffee waste · agar · glycerine
Project context
Homegrow Plastic is a practical study of everyday waste reuse. Discarded PET bottles and coffee waste serve as experimental materials for cutting and joining, reforming, bioplastic recipes and combinations of different materials.
Coffee waste, agar, glycerine and water form samples whose proportions and drying conditions are varied to compare strength, flexibility, shrinkage and water absorption. Bioplastic is also applied to seams and gaps in recycled plastic to observe its function as a filling and joining material.
The experiments show how proportions affect formation and use, with different results for gap filling and surface adhesion. Prolonged immersion, drying cracks and adhesion remain issues for further work. Samples, comparative tests and process records clarify the conditions and limits between material production and practical use.
Scope and limitations
Exploratory material experiments. Prolonged immersion, cracking and surface adhesion remain limitations; the tests do not establish certified performance.