Viennese colors: Sustainable pigments from food waste conquer the design world!

Viennese colors: Sustainable pigments from food waste conquer the design world!

The “Wiener Farben” project started on September 26, 2025 as part of the Vienna Design Week and represents a significant step in sustainable dye development. Initiated by the Vienna Business Agency, this innovative project is aimed at developing colors from unused food waste and neophytes. The first presentation of the coloring results can still be seen until October 5, 2025. The first dye samples of kitchen and nature waste from regional origin are shown.

The first color creations include delicate pink tones from avocado core of the Mochi restaurant, as well as interesting colors made of red herom residues and yellow tones, obtained from Japanese perennial knotweed, which was removed in the Danube meadows. The FRITST dyeing, an established partner in the field of natural colors, plays a central role in this project, which is also supported by a research network with three Austrian universities: the University of Applied Arts Vienna, the Linz University of Art and the Technical University of Vienna.

Focus on regional resources

This year's edition of the Vienna Design Week addresses the Urban Food & Design format and places particular emphasis on regional added value. As part of a guided tour through the exhibition “Wiener Farben”, the participants learn how natural dyes from food waste and invasive plants are obtained. This format aims to promote the development of a local color palette from regional resources.

The tour, which is offered in German and English, lasts about an hour and demands participation in the public. Registration for free participation is necessary at the Festival headquarters of the Vienna Design Week, where the "Showcase Biofabrique Vienna: Wiener Farben" takes place.

Create sustainable alternatives

The project strives to develop aesthetically appealing and ecologically sustainable alternatives to conventional synthetic dyes. The possible uses are versatile and range from the textile area to paints to building materials. The aim of promoting regional products by the Biofabrique Vienna is to promote regional products and thus contribute to resource conservation.

The first public presentation of the results is accompanied by a symposium that took place on September 26th. The vision of the Biofabrique Vienna is made tangible and interest in bioregional dyes is to be further increased. In partnership with various actors such as the design label Rudolf Vienna and the Wurzelwerk association, the further development of these sustainable color concepts is supported.

This initiative marks an important step in transformation to convert unused resources into valuable materials for design and architecture. Interested parties can find more information about this future -oriented project on the website of the Vienna Economic Agency and several links that offer more detailed insights into the topic: Econews,, Vienna Design Week Program and Urban food & design.