Skip to content
Cupcrete פּאַפּירבעכער צו גרינעם בעטאָן by Samira and Sepideh Kharazan

Cupcrete פּאַפּירבעכער צו גרינעם בעטאָן by Samira and Sepideh Kharazan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award אין בראָנדז in נאָכהאַלטיקע פּראָדוקטן, פּראָיעקטן און גרינער דיזײַן Competition Category.


בראָנדזנאָכהאַלטיקער פּראָדוקט· 2024

Cupcrete פּאַפּירבעכער צו גרינעם בעטאָן

by Samira and Sepideh Kharazan

Client: Heavenly

A' Design Award אין בראָנדז Winner in נאָכהאַלטיקער פּראָדוקט Category

40,118

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #161364

Colors

The Design

About Cupcrete פּאַפּירבעכער צו גרינעם בעטאָן

דער פּראָיעקט פּרעזענטירט "Cupcrete," אַן עקאָ-פרייַנדלעך מאַטעריאַל אַנטוויקלט דורך צוויי שוועסטער אַלס אַ לייזונג צו ריסייקלינג פון פּאַפּיר בעכער. עס איז געמאַכט דורך צונויפֿמישן צעמענט מיט ריסייקלטע פּאַפּיר בעכער און וואַסער צו שאַפֿן אַ פליסיק געמיש, וואָס ווערט אַרייַנגעגאָסן אין פֿאָרמעס און טריקנט אין ציגלען, פליזן, פּאַנעלן, מעבל און אַקסעסוארן. Cupcrete איז לייכטגעוויכטיק, צושטעלט אַקוסטישע און טערמישע אינסולאַציע, רעדוצירט קאָסטן און אָפֿערט באַטייטיקע סביבה בענעפיטן.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award אין בראָנדז

Cupcrete פּאַפּירבעכער צו גרינעם בעטאָן איז אַ געווינער פֿון דעם A' Design Award אין בראָנדז, אַן העכסט פּרעסטיזשע אָנערקענונג וואָס ווערט געגעבן צו אויסגעצייכנטע דיזײַנס וואָס שטעכן אַרויס מיט קרעאַטיוויטעט, דערפֿינדונג און קלוגשאַפֿט. בראָנדז-געווינער זענען זייער בקיאותדיקע און אויפֿפֿאַלנדיק קרעאַטיווע אַרטיפֿאַקטן וואָס באַשטעטיקן די ברייטע דערפֿאַרונג, פֿאַנטאַזיע און דערפֿינדונג-קראַפֿט פֿון זייערע דיזײַנערס. פֿון Cupcrete פּאַפּירבעכער צו גרינעם בעטאָן ווערט דערוואַרט אַז עס איז אַ הויך געשעצטע, באַוווּנדערטע און ליבע זאַך וואָס איז אויפֿפֿאַלנדיק פּראָפֿעסיאָנעל און אינאָוואַטיוו. דער דאָזיקער געווינענדיקער דיזײַן פֿון A' Design Award אין בראָנדז פֿאַראײניקט די בעסטע פּראַקטיקן אין קונסט, וויסנשאַפֿט, דיזײַן און טעכנאָלאָגיע, און איז אויסגעצייכנט פֿאַר זײַן אויפֿמערקזאַמקייט צו דעטאַלן. Cupcrete פּאַפּירבעכער צו גרינעם בעטאָן באַפֿרידיקט באַדערפֿענישן פּראַכטפֿול, רירט אָן תּאוות, פֿאַרכּישופֿט געפֿילן און רופֿט נײַגעריקייט.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Cupcrete represents an environmentally friendly variant of concrete crafted from recycled paper cups and Portland cement. Through a novel process for recycling paper cup waste, we have generated a new material akin to cotton, to formulate a green concrete dubbed 'Cupcrete'. This methodology offers an ecological solution for mitigating the consumption of natural resources and reducing waste production. The versatility of Cupcrete allows for numerous potential variations.
Dimensions & Packaging
Cupcrete is formulated by combining cement, shredded paper cups, and sand (if required), which are then mixed with water to create a fluid mixture. This mixture is subsequently poured into blocks or panels and allowed to dry. Cupcrete offers lightweight construction and demonstrates outstanding acoustic and thermal insulation properties. It is distinguished by its cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and notable characteristics such as high ductility, energy absorption capacity, and low density.
Tags
global warming, papercups waste, sustanable, upcycle, recycle, concrete, new material, innovation, construction, green
Production Technology
After the upcycling process of paper cups, which are transformed into a cotton-like material, this substance can then be blended with other recycled or sustainable materials such as cement, sand, or recycled textile fibers to enhance its strength and durability. Essentially, the constituents, when mixed in different proportions, produce concrete with varying properties, making it a versatile material for buildings, furniture, and accessories.
Design Challenge
The toughest aspect of the research was turning cups into a cotton-like material, mainly done at home. Another major challenge is properly collecting and sorting waste at the city level, requiring coordination with bureaucracy and adherence to local regulations. Collaborating with municipal authorities or relevant organizations is essential for program implementation. To address these challenges, we've developed smart bins for municipal presentation. This initiative aims to enhance city recycling and waste management efforts.
Research
This abstract explores the transformation of paper cups into reusable options to address environmental issues.
Cupcrete is formulated by combining cement, shredded paper cups, and sand (if required), which are then mixed with water to create a fluid mixture. This mixture is subsequently poured into blocks or panels and allowed to dry.
With parental support, especially from our mother, a solution was found through thorough examination. Motivated by sustainability, the study delves into technical details such as cup materials and recycling challenges.
It emphasizes innovative approaches like upcycling to reduce paper cup waste and promote sustainability.
It's super light and keeps noise and heat out of buildings. You can use it for walls, floors, even furniture! It's awesome because it's eco-friendly and saves resources. It works better than regular concrete because it's lighter, cheaper, and better for the environment.
Currently, we are engaging an Italian engineering team to work on obtaining detailed properties of this concrete.
Inspiration
This project, sparked by a TV program, addresses the environmental impact of paper cups. Despite being labeled recyclable, less than 1% of paper coffee cups are actually recycled due to the polyethylene coating inside. This is because of the complexities of separating plastic from paper during recycling, coupled with the high costs involved. Over 269 billion cups (weighing as much as one million elephants) end up in landfills yearly, taking over 20 years to decompose and releasing harmful pollutants.
Project Duration
This project commenced in September 2022 in Milan and concluded in June 2023, also in Milan.
Operation Flow
Cupcrete is like the magic of turning paper cup waste into concrete! Just mix it up with cement and water, pour it into molds, and watch it transform. It's incredibly lightweight yet strong, keeping buildings quiet and cool. From walls to floors, even furniture, Cupcrete does it all! What's truly awesome is its eco-friendly nature, saving precious resources with every use. It outshines regular concrete with its lighter weight, lower cost, and superior environmental benefits. It's not just concrete; it's a revolution in building with heart and conscience.
Team Members
Samira Kharazan
Sepideh Kharazan
Image Credits
Main Image #1: Samira Kharazan, 2024.
Image #1 : Samira Kharazan, 2024.
Image #2 : Samira Kharazan, 2024.
Image #3 : Samira Kharazan, 2024.
Image #4 : Samira Kharazan, 2024.
Image #5 : Samira Kharazan, 2024.
Video : Samira Kharazan, 2024.

Sponsored

Explore Beyond Designers.org

Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.

Good Design Deserves Great Recognition

The A' Design Award is an international, juried accolade for good design. Take part in the A' Design Award to get an opportunity to earn meritocratic recognition, gain fame, prestige and publicity for your work. Nominate your work for the A' Design Award and compete for the coveted A' Design Prize.

Nominate