DoughCraft is a sustainable homeware project that explores the material afterlife of expired sourdough bread. Through processes of grinding, reforming, and hand-shaping, leftover bread is transformed into biodegradable sculptural objects designed for the domestic environment. This project emerges from a critical inquiry into food waste and sustainable production practices. By diverting bakery byproducts from landfill and transforming them into long-lasting forms, DoughCraft proposes an alternative narrative for material life cycles—one where perishability and permanence intersect.
The resulting works embrace imperfection, decay, and transformation as aesthetic and conceptual strategies.
Positioned within the context of home decor, they invite reflection on value, material temporality, and environmental responsibility in design.
Material:
Bread Crumbs, Water, Glycerin, Salt, Gelatin M
Research :
While researching how bakeries deal with expired sourdough, I found that many turn leftovers into snacks, offer them through Too Good To Go, or donate them. However, some still throw them away , a wasteful and unsustainable practice. Inspired by a French bakery that grinds old bread into powder and reuses it in fresh loaves, I began exploring how to give expired bread a new purpose. I first experimented with making pendants from bread crumbs — small objects that could be worn or hung as reminders of mindful living. But due to material limitations, I shifted my focus to home decor. The project reimagines sourdough as lasting, biodegradable objects for the home,merging craft, sustainability, and emotional value into everyday space.
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Environment:
This product is intended to exist in two environments: a pop-up exhibition and a bakery shelf.
Both are designed to highlight its origin and provoke reflection on sustainability and material reuse.
Package：
DoughCraft’s packaging is made entirely from biodegradable materials to reflect the project’s commitment to sustainability and thoughtful design.
The honeycomb paper provides soft, plastic-free protection while visually referencing the texture of bread. A kraft paper box offers structural support with a raw, minimal appearance.
Inside, a small info card shares the story behind the materials and process. Each element is designed to reduce waste and create a quiet, intentional unboxing experience.
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