From Trash to Treasure: Bagaceira Workshops in Miami

Bagaceira is a design and material research practice working at the intersection of sustainability, design, and education. The studio develops interior products—lamps, acoustic panels, and other interior design materials —crafted from sugarcane bagasse, an abundant agricultural byproduct. Its non-profit counterpart, Bagaceira Co-Lab, expands this impact through workshops, training, and collaborations with communities worldwide. Together, their mission is to turn waste into opportunity, spark new economies around bio-based materials, and build awareness of circular and regenerative design.

With support from the Puffin Foundation, Bagaceira brought this mission to Miami, a city surrounded by sugarcane fields but with limited local research or innovation around bio-based materials. Two workshops were organized in collaboration with the Future of Cities Climate & Innovation Hub and Moonlighter FabLab, led by designer and material researcher Julia Steketee and sustainability and bioeconomy researcher Igor Barboza.

Participants experimented directly with bagasse-based material recipes, molding and assembling them into collaborative creations. Beyond the hands-on work, the conversations proved equally valuable: for many, concepts like the circular economy and regenerative design were entirely new. Together we explored questions like: What if South Florida’s sugarcane waste could be transformed into lasting, eco-friendly materials instead of being burned or discarded? How might these practices shape Miami’s creative industries or communities?

The workshops highlighted both excitement and opportunity: participants were eager to get their hands in the mix and curious to discuss the potential of bio-based design in their professional or artistic practices. At the same time, many noted that bio-based material development for the built environment is still an emerging conversation in Florida. Creating space for theory—explaining why circular practices matter alongside how materials are made—was essential to deepening understanding and sparking interest.

Puffin’s support was crucial to bringing these events to life, allowing Bagaceira to connect with Miami’s creative community, introduce new ideas, and plant seeds for future collaborations. The experience confirmed the importance of Bagaceira’s mission: to empower communities to reimagine waste as a resource, build skills in bio-based design, and foster connections for a more circular and sustainable future.