Barro de Café (Coffee Clay) is a project believing that product design must address global challenges, notably industrial waste and environmental concerns. The project innovatively utilises food industry by-products like coffee grounds to create a novel material. Tests confirmed the viability of blending this organic matter with ceramics, resulting in lightweight, porous materials. The project unfolded in two phases: initial laboratory tests optimising the blend, followed by prototyping to maximise material benefits. It advocates for valuing by-products, unlocking their potential for sustainable design. Through manual and industrial processes, it explores new applications, emphasising a shift towards recognizing waste as a resource.

Sara Baptista da Silva is a portuguese industrial and product designer, who studied at UNIBZ Italy and ESAD Caldas da Rainha. She spearheads innovative research like the Eco-ceramics and crystal of Portugal project, collaborating with industry leaders for circularity strategies and sustainable product development. Committed to combining functionality, sustainability, and innovation. Her projects are recognized in the Jan Van Eyck Academie’s Future Material Bank archive.