Strengthening the avocado industry through developing DIY-materials

Abstract

The avocado agri-food industry, as is the case with many other products of organic origin, is generating a considerable amount of waste, mainly in its place of origin. This negative impact is primarily affected by the transformation process for export purposes. The shell and nuts are not processed to manufacture foods such as guacamole; therefore, they remain in their place of cultivation. These residues, whose volume of agglomeration in cultivation produces significant soil degradation, can be reused beyond their traditional use as compost. Colombia, one of the leading producers of these fruits, is presented as an essential recovery scenario where alternatives for developing new materials are proposed through the intervention of its life cycle. The recovery of this waste can be refocused using the shell and nut to realize DIY-Materials (Do-It-Yourself-Materials). Doing this aligns with the global trends to partially substitute materials by replacing those derived from finite sources or those that have a negative environmental impact. The project presented here shows the scope of transforming a material using the shell and nut from a material focus through design. This article evidences how the iterative experimental process of this resource approaches circular design mechanisms thanks to the creative development of materials.