Avocado Pip Project
This six-month initiative reimagined food waste as a source of indoor green life, collecting over 4,000 avocado pips (an average of 160 per week) from local cafes across Sheffield and Rotherham.
.jpg)
4000
4,000+ Avocado Pips Collected from Waste
80
80% of Plants Found New Homes
The majority of sprouted pips were distributed or sold affordably, placing regenerative greenery in homes across the UK.
5
Local cafes partnered to donate there 'waste' seeds
5
Local cafes partnered to donate there 'waste' seeds
Project Impact
Project Summary:
This six-month initiative reimagined food waste as a source of indoor green life, collecting over 4,000 avocado pips (an average of 160 per week) from local cafes across Sheffield and Rotherham. These discarded seeds were nurtured into houseplants—80% of which were sold or rehomed—offering people a way to connect with nature from their windowsills during lockdown. At its heart, this was more than a plant project—it was about rewilding lives, not just landscapes, making nature part of daily home life when access to the outdoors felt limited and distant.
This Included:
Collaborating with over 5 cafes in Sheffield and Rotherham, this project collected discarded avocado pips, sprouted them into lush houseplants, and distributed them across the UK. It challenged notions of what waste is, created an accessible entry point into indoor gardening, and emphasized the circularity between consumption and regeneration.
The Story behind the Seeds:
Everyday Nature Collection
Avocado plants became living reminders that nature can grow from everyday moments. Unlike traditional gardening, these houseplants brought green life indoors—onto windowsills and desks. They weren’t just decor, they were invitations to witness the slow, quiet process of growth, making nature personal and visible in new ways. People cared for the plants and got to see them grow daily, that moment of getting excited when a new leave was growing.
Youth Led Change
The project served as a continuation of her hands-on design philosophy. As a young practitioner still developing her identity, she experimented with waste systems, local networks, and design storytelling. Her ability to forge partnerships with cafes and coordinate a collection-distribution cycle speaks to entrepreneurial leadership and applied design thinking.
Grassroot Action
The avocado pip project tapped into existing flows of waste without disrupting them. It built a small infrastructure where none existed—quietly, efficiently, and with heart. Rather than scaling up with tech or branding, it scaled deep, creating a mindful experience through something otherwise tossed away.
Deep Human Connection
Buying or receiving an avocado plant carried a story: that this pip once came from a local cafe, that it grew in someone’s hands, that it was shared with intention. This story made each plant feel like a gesture of care, sparking curiosity and often conversations around sustainability and growing.