Cacao Eco Village in Ecuador is a carbon-neutral destination and a world-first global network of sustainable and smart villages that supports the circular economy. Created by architecture firm Valentino Gareri Atelier in partnership with nonprofit Avanti for local cacao farmers, the Cacao Eco Village features 3D-printed structures made from recycled elements from the crop production process—cacao shell waste biofilaments that result from the creation of chocolate.
Set in the Manabi province, the village uses three different modules with unique shapes. Alongside by-products of the chocolate production process, the designs implement local materials such as timber and bamboo.
The environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing village integrates several decorative elements, including
decorative water tanks that draw from Ecuadorian art for the purposes of collecting rainwater.
3D-Printed Cacao Waste Villages
Cacao Eco Village Structures are Made from Cacao Shell Waste
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Architecture - 3D printing can be leveraged to create sustainable architecture through the use of recycled materials, such as cacao shell waste biofilaments.
2. Circular Economy - Projects like the Cacao Eco Village demonstrate the potential to support a circular economy by utilizing waste materials to create new products and structures.
3. Smart Villages - Cacao Eco Village showcases the opportunity to create smart, sustainable villages that integrate technology and environmentally conscious design principles.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Architecture firms can explore the use of 3D printing and recycled materials to create sustainable structures.
2. Sustainable Tourism - The Cacao Eco Village demonstrates the potential for sustainable tourism destinations that minimize environmental impact and support local communities.
3. Food Industry - The use of waste materials like cacao shell waste biofilaments can present disruptive innovation opportunities for the food industry to create new products and reduce waste.