Feel the peel; circular juice bar ecosostenibile

Soon in Milan the first truly eco -sustainable Italian bar, with a scenographic design. It’s called Feel The Peel e produces bioplastic from orange peels.

Let’s find out in the exclusive interview with Carlo Ratti, creator of this project, what Feel The Peel is, what it consists of and when (and where) will be open to the public!

How did the «Feel The Peel» idea come about? How many minds did you want to make everything?

The idea was born from previous collaborations with Eni devoted to promoting the circular economy. The possibilities of recovering the residues of orange after its pressing are many, but the idea of ​​printing 3Ds of the glasses with a filament obtained from the orange peel was the best way to bring the cycle back to the origin. To do this we have involved transversal skills, from the design of the concept to mechanical execution, passing through the increasingly interesting world of 3D printing.

Carlo you are the creator of Feel The Peel, can you define yourself in 2 words?

That sounds like an incredible innovation in sustainability and design! «Feel The Peel» truly embodies the essence of a circular economy by transforming waste into a resource.

Here are a few follow-up questions that could make the interview even more engaging:

1️⃣ Sustainability Impact – Beyond the glasses, do you see potential for expanding this concept to other biodegradable products?

2️⃣ Design & Technology – How does the 3D printing process work in real-time within the bar? How long does it take to create a glass?

3️⃣ Consumer Experience – What can visitors expect when they enter Feel The Peel? Will they be able to witness the full transformation process of orange peels into bioplastic?

4️⃣ Future Plans – Are there any plans to replicate this model in other cities or apply it to different industries?

5️⃣ Challenges & Innovations – What were the biggest challenges in bringing this vision to life, and how did your team overcome them?

The intersection of sustainability, design, and technology in this project is fascinating—can’t wait to see it in action in Milan! 🍊♻️

A curious

You have a professional path to envy any architect (including teaching at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, USA, where Dirigi the Mit Senseable City Lab) … how did you get to all this?

From a student I was always fascinated by the border between one discipline and another. This trend also guided me in subsequent choices: I dealt with engineering, architecture, computer science, physics … all this found its natural outlet in the study of the contemporary city. Over time, the various scattered points have finally begun to align – as Steve Jobs tells well in his lesson to Stanford’s students.

Do not use oranges only for juice: but how does the 3D printer of disposable orange glasses work in practical terms? What were the reaction of the first customers?

The printer, integrated into the prototype, stratifies with concentric movements a filament, obtained from the dried orange peels, chopped and combined with polylactic acid in a mixture that is then melted and enveloped like a thread around a spool. The public immediately welcomed the proposal enthusiastically, observing the Juice Bar Circular with curiosity.

How does this huge juice work (3.10 m high)? How many stages are missing from the tour to present the Juice Bar Circular?

Feel the Peel contains in a prototype an example of circular economy: every time an orange is divided in half to be squeezed, his peels fall down, are collected and, with an external process, are treated until a filament is obtained With which the 3D printer, integrated into the car, returns the peels to a new life, in a glass of bioplasty. The next appointments will be the Singularity University Summit in Milan on 8 and 9 October, and Ecomondo Rimini, a European event for the promotion of the circular economy, from 5 to 8 November.