RSD 15 - Data in relation
VIRTUAL EXHIBITION
Transformation
The Hidden Half
Remaking Hong Kong’s pineapple waste into bio-active [materials]
KEYWORD
Liu Jinxin (Kimmy), Lyu Shuxuan (Susanne)
School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
ABSTRACT
Piña-Pure reframes Hong Kong’s overlooked pineapple by-products as a systemic design opportunity. With over 8,000 tonnes of pineapples imported annually, about half of each fruit becomes peel, core, crown, eyes and pulp residues with no dedicated recovery pathway. The project proposes a prototype pathway — Intercept, Transform, Distribute — using material exploration, four product prototypes and public engagement to make this hidden waste stream visible and test possible routes back into everyday life.
#systemicdesign #circulareconomy
#foodwaste #bioactivematerials
CREATIVE PROCESS
The project followed four stages: Exploration, Definition, Proposition and Implementation. The team screened urban food-waste streams, then conducted observation and interviews with Hung Hom fruit vendors and juice shops. Pineapple by-products were iteratively processed through fermentation, extraction and formulation, leading to four prototypes tested through a public roadshow.
IMPLICATIONS AND NEXT STEPS
Piña-Pure demonstrates a design-led proof of concept rather than a fully validated circular system. The next phase requires formal sourcing agreements, scaled processing partnerships, product safety and efficacy validation, distribution infrastructure and end-of-life testing. The approach offers a replicable method for making other overlooked urban waste streams visible and actionable.
References
Census and Statistics Department. (2025). Hong Kong trade statistics. https://www.censtatd.gov.hk
Ketnawa, S., Chaiwut, P., & Rawdkuen, S. (2012). Pineapple wastes: A potential source for bromelain extraction. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 90(3), 385–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2011.12.006
Maurer, H. R. (2001). Bromelain: Biochemistry, pharmacology and medical use. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 58(9), 1234–1245. https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00000936