Students from the University of Newcastle have created an upcycled coffee shop appropriately named the Trash Cafe. The Trash Cafe is made using cardboard, plastic bottles and plastic bags. A total of 18 students spent three months designing the cafe. It features walls made of cardboard, chairs made of plastic bottles and aprons that were formerly plastic bags.
Each segment of the Trash Cafe has a QR code on it; scanning the code gives you a link to the project's website to let you see what went went into building that particular part of the cafe. Trash Cafe is a pop-up coffee shop and will be taken on the road after it spends a few days on the University of Newcastle campus.
Cardboard Coffee Houses
The Trash Cafe is Made Entirely from Upcycled Items
Trend Themes
1. Upcycled Cafes - The trend of creating eco-friendly, upcycled cafes utilizing discarded materials presents an opportunity to tap into environmentally conscious consumers.
2. QR Code Marketing - Utilizing QR codes to link consumers to information about the sustainability of a product or service presents a disruptive opportunity to increase transparency and consumer education.
3. Sustainable Interior Design - The trend of using sustainable and upcycled materials in interior design presents an opportunity for professional designers to iterate and innovate using eco-conscious materials.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - The food and beverage industry can benefit from incorporating sustainability and eco-friendliness into its aesthetic and offerings, and capitalize on consumer desire for eco-conscious options.
2. Retail - Retail companies can explore using upcycled materials in their store design and displays and promote the ecological benefits to appeal to eco-conscious consumers.
3. Education - Educational institutions can use projects like the Trash Cafe to promote sustainability education and encourage students to find creative solutions to environmental issues.