‘Nawa’ is a design research and fabrication project that bridges the gap between agriculture and the built environment by transforming waste into valuable resources. The project leverages date seed composite material for 3D printing applications.
Seeding the Future
In 2022, the global date palm industry generated around 975,000 tons of date seeds, often seen as waste. RePit, aims to transform these by-products into a sustainable alternative for the 3D printing industry by developing composite materials made from date seeds, offering a greener option than traditional plastic-based filaments.
We focus on reducing reliance on non-renewable resources, promoting waste reduction, and minimizing environmental impact. Substituting plastic with date seed composites can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support a circular economy, and divert waste from landfills, with life cycle assessments highlighting reduced carbon footprints and improved sustainability.
To realize this vision, we sourced date seeds from our farms in Oman during Al Qaidh harvesting season. The seeds were processed into bio-materials for custom tiles, demonstrating their versatility beyond traditional uses and highlighting their potential in sustainable product design. Our project bridges traditional farming with modern technology, paving the way for a greener future.