Consumer waste - Nespresso Capsules

 

Nespresso Citiz - Image : www.nespresso.com

So I'm not going to lie and say I do not use the DeLonghi Citiz Nespresso coffee machine. We have one at home and its quite a useful machine. Before we had this we found that the grounded coffee we used went off quite quickly as you would open a bag and then use a sufficient amount for that session, the rest would be static until the next coffee. 

Now each coffee has a dedicated capsule, developed by Nestle. The capsules come in many different aromas. For each coffee, the chromed lid is opened and a capsule is placed inside. The lid is then pushed down which in the same action the capsule is pierced ready for water to flow through from the water reservoir. 

Once the combined water and coffee has stopped pouring. The capsule can now be dropped into the capsule bay below. I must reinforce that the capsule is still intact, but just with holes on the top foil head and 4 main holes on the end. There is one massive downside to this, that is the used coffee is still confined to the capsule. What is the user going to do? Put it in the rubbish bin onwards to the landfill or individually cut each one open and scrape the coffee out for the organic waste bin in the backyard (Which I did do, see below for pictures)......We all know that answer, rubbish bin sadly. A lot of these capsules around the world would end up in the landfill. Where the coffee will enter the stream of toxic, contaminated waste.

Where as it could be waste that equals food. Food for the environment. What ones waste should equals another food. The coffee could be put in with the organic waste bin and degrade with other food waste and then be cycled through out the garden. Cradle to Cradle, Remaking the way we make things by William McDonough & Michael Braungart highlights the need for this sort of thinking.

I understand why the capsule was developed. It keeps the machine clean and mess free. It also makes the process of making a coffee very efficient. But for the sake of convenience it fulfills one need and creates two problems on the other end.

The worms are going to love this, coffee overload

It took a while to cut every single one open!

Fringe Furniture Opening Night 2013

So with a bigger than large lead up to the open night for the whole of Melbourne Fringe Festival and Fringe Furniture the night has got the ball rolling and its now time to enjoy all the acts and performances ahead!



So from memory Awards wise.

Emerging Designer Award : Rory Davenport - Pull Legs

Best Lighting Design Award: Andre Hnatojko & Dale Hardiman - Polly Popper Light



I can't quite remember the other awards but I will edit them in when I get a chance!



So I managed to get my revised Threaded Out Chair done and ready for show! Check out the pictures below. I redesigned the backrest so its was easier to put together and cheaper as well. Also Matt Harding and I have a light in the exhibit called Lumen. So if your in Abbotsford come check it all out!

Harvey likes the Chair!

Matt setting up Lumen!

Fracture Speaker

 

Serving Boards for Seagulls Greek Taverna

So today I drove to Frankston to drop off 15 serving boards for the newly renovated Seagulls Greek Taverna. It took me two weeks on and off with University in full swing. I spent my days off doing one process at a time.

It open tomorrow! 4th of September! If you are around the area, go experience it, it will be worth it.

I made them out of Victorian Ash. I glued up 3 lengths for each board, used 20mm biscuits for location and ease of gluing. This will allow the boards to stay flat with the constant wet and dry environment. Titebond III was used for its waterproof  and its FDA (FoodSafe) properties. Ubeaut Foodsafe Mineral Oil was used for the boards, as most  other food safe oils generally are nut based products. And I'm sure that won't go down well with patrons in the restaurant that have allergies.