Designers Transform Coffee By-Products into Sustainable Materials at Paris Design Week
In an inspiring display of ecological ingenuity, a collective of Latvian designers, in partnership with Kalve Coffee, unveiled their "Found Associations" project during Paris Design Week 2026. This pioneering endeavor reimagines the humble coffee shop as a vibrant ecosystem where the remnants of daily consumption are not discarded but reborn as valuable resources. The initiative exemplifies the principles of biodesign and a circular economy, demonstrating how material experiments can transform a cafe into both a source of raw materials and a dynamic laboratory for their metamorphosis.
Pioneering Material Transformation at Paris Design Week
At the heart of the "Found Associations" exhibition, held in Paris, France, the innovative process unfolded, starting with the often-overlooked by-products of Kalve Coffee's daily operations: used coffee grounds, wastewater, and surplus foamed milk. Each substance embarked on a meticulously designed journey of treatment and transformation, orchestrated by talented designers.
Mārtiņš Mežulis initiated the process with a sophisticated water filtration system. Discarded coffee grounds were first subjected to pyrolysis, a thermal decomposition process, yielding biochar. This biochar was then activated with steam, a technique refined with the expertise of Yang Liu from Eindhoven University of Technology, creating activated carbon. This activated carbon proved highly effective in purifying dirty water collected from coffee machine reservoirs, showcasing a practical and sustainable method for water reclamation.
Following this, a portion of the filtered water became an essential component in Katrīna Tīna Smilga's "Milk Glue" project. Here, leftover foamed milk was gently heated and acidified, prompting its separation into curds and whey. The curds were carefully collected, dried, and then finely milled into a powder, yielding a versatile new material reminiscent of a natural adhesive.
Līva Sakārne then skillfully combined these milk curds, now a glue-like substance, with dried coffee grounds and a small amount of the previously filtered water. This blend resulted in a pliable, moldable material. This innovative composite was then pressed into custom wooden molds, yielding uniquely shaped takeaway and in-cafe coffee trays, their organic forms drawing inspiration from spilled liquids. During the exhibition, these trays were seamlessly integrated into Kalve Coffee's daily service, replacing conventional trays and offering customers a tangible experience of the circular economy in action.
Beyond functional objects, the material chain also embraced sculptural expression. Paula Punkstiņa masterfully incorporated dirty water with glycerin and resin to fashion interior elements. These amber-hued surfaces visually captured the essence of flowing water, extending the material experiments beyond mere utility into the realm of spatial aesthetics and further demonstrating how seemingly insignificant by-products can be elevated into compelling design elements within the cafe's environment.
This continuous chain of material experimentation highlights the project's core philosophy: every output of one stage becomes the input for the next, illustrating a seamless and sustainable cycle of transformation. By integrating low-tech techniques with advanced laboratory methods, "Found Associations" vividly illustrates diverse approaches to repurposing cafe by-products, challenging traditional notions of waste and revealing the rich potential for new material identities.
The "Found Associations" project serves as a compelling model of how design and collaboration can foster a more sustainable future. By transforming everyday cafe waste into innovative products and artistic installations, the designers not only minimize environmental impact but also inspire new perspectives on resource utilization. This initiative reminds us that creativity, coupled with a commitment to circular principles, can turn waste into wonder, inviting us to reconsider the hidden value in our daily consumption and to imagine a world where everything has the potential for a second life.