# Ecological Chinese Cafes This Chinese Cafe Puts an Emphasis on Building Community & Upcycling By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2014-09-24 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chinese-cafe References: [coolhunting](http://www.coolhunting.com/food-drink/spoonful-of-sugar-sos-re-up-beijing.php) & [facebook](https://www.facebook.com/re.up.1044?fref=ts) The Re-Up Chinese cafe in Beijing is part of the 'Spoonful of Sugar' project, which aims to handle the country's issues with over-consumption in creative ways. The cafe itself puts an immense amount of focus on [upcycling](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kisarazu-concept-store), making use of natural materials that are a reflection of local history. What used to be a run-down [Art Deco-style building](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/atypique-1) is now a bustling space that is the place to go for food and [connecting with the community](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spaced-agency), especially since the cafe hosts and sells artwork by local talent. Just as the interior of the cafe is a blend of old and new, so are the menu items that bring modern twists to classic dishes. All of the snacks served at Re-Up are prepared in-house, meaning that there's less waste created on a daily basis. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.6/10 - Popularity: 53% | Activity: 76% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Upcycling Cafes:** There is a disruptive innovation opportunity to create cafes that prioritize upcycling and use natural materials to reflect local history. - **Community-driven Cafes:** There is a disruptive innovation opportunity to develop cafes that focus on building community and connecting people through shared spaces and local talent. - **Sustainable Snack Preparation:** There is a disruptive innovation opportunity to design snack preparation methods that minimize waste by preparing all snacks in-house. ### Who This Affects Most - **Hospitality:** There is a disruptive innovation opportunity in the hospitality industry to create eco-friendly cafes that prioritize upcycling and community-building. - **Art and Culture:** There is a disruptive innovation opportunity in the art and culture industry to collaborate with cafes in showcasing and selling local artwork, creating a hub for artistic expression. - **Food and Beverage:** There is a disruptive innovation opportunity in the food and beverage industry to develop sustainable snack preparation methods that minimize waste and prioritize in-house preparation. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Green China-Based Coffee Chains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shenzhen.md) - [Glass-Walled Shanghai Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mei-yuan-cafe.md) - [Cross-Influence Fusion Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/challe-caf.md) - [Dynamic Layered Interior Cafés](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/caf-tondo.md) - [Paired-Back Chinese Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pairedback-chinese-restaurant.md) - [Chopstick-Crafted Homeware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/renew-by-trinity.md) - [Youthful Restaurant Interiors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/design-next-agency.md) - [Eco-Friendly Pop-Up Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-green-vic.md) - [Reclaimed Interior Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onyx-aether.md)