Sweet and sustainable: Design firm eyes cocoa bean waste for building materials

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In Ecuador, a team from design firm Lakò Studio is looking for ways to repurpose the copious amounts of cocoa bean waste generated every year into useful building materials.

According to Lakò, only half of cocoa beans are used to make food. The remaining shells are comprised of vegetal fibers appropriate for lightweight soundproofing and insulating materials. Lakò Studios calls the concept Kajkao.

The studio has experience working with cocoa bean waste, having already developed plant-based leather from the material. It is currently testing the durability of the leather and looking at how to integrate other wastes into the materials.