Waste to wonder

Everyday food waste becomes a sustainable material that’s as functional as it is beautiful.

Overproduction, excessive consumption of natural raw materials and deforestation are three of the most significant factors causing climate change, and it’s not news that the construction industry is one of the leading contributors, responsible for half of all natural resource extraction globally per year. Materials company Ottan is working to combat this problem, offering innovative bio-composite materials using food waste – from wood alternatives and cladding materials with acoustic properties, from hazelnut and pistachio shells to frosted glass alternatives from expired rice and tile alternatives from eggshells, fallen plant leaves and fruit peel.

“Since the food and agriculture sectors will continue to exist as long as humanity does, it is crucial to harness the by-products and waste of these sectors for the economy,” says founder Ayşe Yılmaz.

Ottan Materials are both repairable and recyclable, as well as solvent free. With the ability to be cut, drilled and sanded, they can be treated like wood and revitalized by oiling or varnishing even after years of use. When no longer required, they can be recycled into new Ottan Materials within the company’s own premises – a process that uses 95% less energy than stone or wood production.

“The upcycling technology we have invented is highly portable and scalable,” explains Yılmaz. “The reason behind designing the technology this way was that waste and consumption issues are not limited to specific regions. Every region on Earth faces its own waste problems and natural resource consumption is a global concern. In our vision, our project will be established at waste-generating points worldwide, enabling the upcycling of tonnes of waste. With this circular system, we can eliminate numerous problems while not compromising on aesthetics and elegance, paving the way for a more beautiful and sustainable future.”

I have talked before about hybrid working and how the office should now become a place for deliberate interactions, as opposed to a place we go to grind away at emails for eight hours each day. I am a fan of the ability to work from anywhere (note: I do not say “work from home”), but also enjoy those days where I can meet my colleagues in person.

The thing is, as a late era Boomer, I had early exposure to meeting and collaborating with other people. I did not take my first video meeting until 2006 and was in my fifties before ‘working from home’ stopped being a euphemism for skiving off. I learnt how to operate in an in-person world. The same cannot be said for Gen Z, and they are struggling.

For recent graduates, most of their university years were disrupted by COVID. They attended online classes, virtual social events and some even did online internships. As a result, many of Gen Z have poor interaction skills. They find it hard to present in person, lacking fluency and confidence, relying heavily on filler words such as ‘like’ and ‘um’. They find it difficult to read the room and see when they are losing or winning their audience; they talk too fast and do not make eye contact while networking.

Dress code is another minefield. Although to be fair ‘Business Casual’ as a description gives very few clues if you have spent the last two years in a student house attending lectures in your pyjamas. I have had to point