Factory to upcycle waste in Ernakulam and develop a circular economy

The project aims to address the issue of inadequate solid waste management and treatment facilities in the Ernakulam market area.

A large quantity of plastic packaging and organic waste produced by restaurants and vendors is dumped on the streets and in open areas leading to environmental degradation.

The proposal was for a small factory in the market area that upcycles waste, particularly banana waste, to develop a local circular economy. In the scheme, organic waste is broken down to produce biogas for local restaurants and fertiliser for farmers. Plastic packaging is baled and sold to traders for recycling. The primary scheme however, is the upcycling of banana waste taken from wholesalers in the form of sheaths cut from the plant’s stem to create textile products. The remaining banana leaves are dried and pressed to make disposable, biodegradable plates for local street food vendors.
The manufacturing processes were made visible to the public with extensive glazing facing Kuttapayi Road and a viewing gantry above the factory floor. This was to help raise awareness about the banana textile cottage industry and promote more sustainable behaviour with regards to solid waste.

As such the project was able to merge many aspects of the context and program to create a holistic response to the waste issue in the market. It balanced facilities for the upcycling processes with public aspects to raise awareness helping about waste, helping to develop a more circular economy.