Plantain waste

Puerto Rico

Type of waste: agricultural

Plantains are a staple food in a lot of Latin America. Puerto Rico is no exception: they're not just a food, but a marker of identity. Despite agriculture not being a big industry in the country, plantains are the third most produced crop, around 42.3 million dollars, according to the USDA.

Materia Madura

Materia Madura is a furniture collection launched by Ana Cristina Quiñones, and made from an innovative material derived from plantain and coffee waste. Inspired by the indigenous Taíno culture from Puerto Rico and their prehistoric artefacts, this project offers an alternative to agricultural waste and recycling with a non-toxic, sustainable, locally sourced, and biodegradable material. (Quiñones, 2015)