To improve not only our planet’s but our own health too, in the near future, we will be relying on a lot more fruit sand vegetables.

For optimal taste and nutrition, true freshness of the produce is needed. This „unlimited freshness“ can be found in local, seasonal produce. The challenge of preserving the quality of fruit and vegetables at home, invites a new approach to storage.

Despite it’s bad reputation, carbon dioxide has one super-power. 


It has the ability slow down cellular respiration in fresh fruits and vegetables.

Slowing down of cellular respiration, means?

Well, it is a lot simpler than it sounds. Just like every living thing, even after harvest, fruits and vegetables continue to breath. What CO2 does is to calm the cells down and make them breathe slower. This has a profound effect on the longevity, as fruits and vegetables lose a lot less water, vitamins, minerals and taste. Compared to refrigerator, fruits and vegetables can be stored up to 6 times longer with the help of CO2.

Freshness is not all about the looks.
The real fresh produce is the seasonal, local one - full of vitamins, minerals, amino acids. How we store fresh produce at home can have a profound effect over the nutritional quality after harvest.

Did you know, fruits & vegetables can lose up to 70% of their Vitamin C, just after 14 days in the fridge?

A study reports that cold refrigerator temperature causes nutritional loss in fresh produce. Especially summer produce, like tomato, can lose up to 70% of its vitamin C and taste.

To study →

To preserve nutrition, fruits & vegetables need conditions, similar to their growth climate

Which means a proper storage for fresh produce will need to adjust according to the seasonal produce, and it's climate.

In a world, rich in Carbon Dioxide, can we harvest it, instead of producing it?

This new Carbon Capture Technology →, being developed by Bradley Ladewig at KIT (Karlsruher Institut für Technologie) is now being tested at industrial facilities as a part of an effort to reduce Co2 emissions during production. By passing air through the filter the co2 molecules in it are bound to its surface, subjecting the filter to UV Light breaks up the bond between the filter and Co2 Molecules again. This process can be repeated so that a cycle between capture and release can be created. 

During production, excessed CO2 could be captured by passing air through an „Metal-Organic-Framework Filter“.

Later the saturated filter could be integrated into the new storage system where it would then release the carbon dioxide in a conHereby, an unwanted by-product could be turned into a valuable resource while lowering there emissions and make storing fresh produce more sustainable.

1. CO2  filtration from production facilities with a MOF filter

2. MOF filter in the heart of the climate module

3. Implementing the climate module above the storage

Keeping the 6% carbon dioxide inside the system.

Later the saturated filter could be integrated into the new storage system where it would then release the carbon dioxide in a con Hereby, an unwanted by product could be turned into a valuable resource while lowering their emissions and make storing fresh produce more sustainable.

Activating the air capture.

This process is activated by slightly turning a knob on the front side of the storage. 

The system activates.

At this moment, the CO2 enriched air is still inside and the drawer cannot be opened.

Once turned, the air is sucked in back to the module.

The carbon dioxide enriched air from the storage is again channelled through the organic compound filter, which captures the CO2 molecules, similarly to a magnet. 

In a few seconds, the CO2 enriched air is filtered out.

The drawer pops out and the user can safely open it up.

Rammed earth

A significant part of the design is the choice of material. With its thermal properties, „Rammed Earth“ secures a steady and efficient climate inside the storage space. In addition, it can be recycled and repurposed. The layers of earth are a strong visual symbol, which emphasizes the meaning of the „second harvest“. 

The combination between natural and high-tech materials offers a new, warmer design language.

A high performance seal ensures that the system is airtight. A high-quality rail keeps the drawer in position. It also enables opening once the CO2 has been recaptured by slightly pushing the drawer out.

Second harvest

Inside the drawer, the fruits and vegetables lie on a soft-touch basket, which prevents bruising and enables ventilation. The seal on the backside secures an airtight closing of the system. 

As a part of the "Siemens Design Award 2022" Challenge, the project was one of the 10 Finalists.

→ For 5 Months
→ 2021/2022
→ Worked together with John Hayden, Erik Mantz-Hansen, Paul Ullrich, Feidi Hu‍

Next Project →