Detroit-based startup EcoSphere Organics is transforming foodwaste, particularly banana peels into sleek, biodegradable coasters. The brainchild of designer and entrepreneur Brittanie Dabney, the initiative is exploring alternatives to foodwaste ending up in landfills by taking what would otherwise be discarded and giving it new material purpose such as compostable packaging, plant-based leathers and coasters.
Housed within Michigan Central’s Newlab innovation campus, EcoSphere’s approach is emblematic of design-led sustainability. EcoSphere leverages food waste from local restaurants—banana peels, citrus rinds, coffee grounds, and eggshells—and processes it into durable, compostable goods. Their signature coasters, created through dehydration and fermentation methods, are completely plant-based and free from harsh chemicals or excess water use. With over 700,000 tons of food waste landfilled annually in Michigan, this model challenges conventional disposal routes and redefines waste as a design resource
Dabney’s vision goes beyond aesthetics: she’s crafting a closed-loop system where design, sustainability, and community intersect. EcoSphere’s approach offers a compelling alternative—one rooted in regenerative materials and local impact.
