Project Participants
Spring 2010:
Background
We are taking Engr. 305 – Appropriate Technology at Humboldt State University. The project we have chosen is to design and build furniture made from cardboard for those people who want to save money, reduce their carbon footprint, or just be creative. We want to demonstrate that stylish furniture can be made completely from recycled materials at a very low cost.
Our plan:
- To use recycled cardboard donated from businesses or individuals in the community
- Make our own homemade eco-friendly glue from rice, wheat or pasta
- Use eco-friendly fabrics and paints for upholstery and decoration.
Opportunity Definition
During the 2010 spring semester at HSU we decided to build stylish and functional furniture for Engineering 305, Appropriate Technology. We want to demonstrate that furniture could be made with reused and renewable materials using sustainable methods. We also want to be able to create a design on par with trendy brand name furniture as well as be safe and durable. Our goal is to describe a method in which students on a budget can have furniture they can be proud of and feel comfortable using in their dorm room or first residence. We hope to try out different materials, binders, paints, upholstery and cushions.