{"id":9912,"date":"2018-10-12T01:00:56","date_gmt":"2018-10-12T01:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/?p=9912"},"modified":"2018-10-11T20:14:37","modified_gmt":"2018-10-11T20:14:37","slug":"hyo-cups-vegetable-cups-designed-3d-printing-3d-print-sustainable-121020184","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/hyo-cups-vegetable-cups-designed-3d-printing-3d-print-sustainable-121020184\/","title":{"rendered":"HyO-Cups; vegetable cups designed with 3D printing"},"content":{"rendered":"

What if you could create coffee cups from vegetables?\u00a0This is the idea behind this project led by the design studio Cr\u00e8me that grew squash in molds to make biodegradable cups, called HyO-Cups. The reason for us\u00a0talking about this initiative is because the molds used were printed in 3D.\u00a0Its designer, Jun Aizaki says that these cups could be produced on a large scale. The vegetable cups could become a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic cups.<\/p>\n

Squash are fast-growing plants that carry sturdy fruits every season.\u00a0Once dried, the outer skin and inner fibers of the gourds become watertight.\u00a0Thus, it has been used throughout cultures for centuries as decorative vases or functional containers.\u00a0Cream has adapted this method to create its own compostable cups, using custom 3D printed molds.<\/p>\n

\"Hyo-Cups\"<\/figure>\n

The process of\u00a0HyO-Cups<\/h3>\n

Concretely, the studio begins by 3D printing molds according to the desired shape for the final object – this mold fits in two parts.\u00a0Then, the squash seed is placed in it and grows inside the mold.\u00a0Once the fruit is ripe, the mold is separated and the squash dries to give the final appearance of the cup.\u00a0According to Jun, it takes 3 weeks for the squash to grow the fruit, 3 weeks for it to ripen and 4 months for it to dry.\u00a0A process that they hope to accelerate later.<\/p>

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Jun explains that they were able to make all the molds directly in their studio with their\u00a03D FDM printer<\/a>.\u00a0He says he can give the squash the shape he wants and create biodegradable and original cups.\u00a0The design studio also makes small vegetable carafes. “We can grow squash in customizable shapes, such as cups and carafes that can be composted instead of polluting our earth with plastic,<\/em>\u00a0” said the design studio.<\/p>\n

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\"Hyo-Cups\"

Squash ripen directly in 3D printed molds<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n

The designers point out that the process of making a typical paper-based cup produces more than 100 grams of carbon dioxide. With less than one percent of that being recycled after disposal.\u00a0HyO-Cups would be a way to significantly reduce this waste.\u00a0You can find more information on the\u00a0official website of Cr\u00e8me<\/a>\u00a0and in the video below:<\/p>\n