Grounds for Grounds

The project objective was to develop a biodegradable product that supports circular design systems. Hence, A methodical design approach was undertaken, prioritising sustainable practices and innovative material development.

The process began with in-depth research, including consumer feedback, and hands-on trials to formulate custom biomaterial blends, ensuring they met the strength requirements for golf tees while remaining fully biodegradable with no harmful afterlife impact. Several iterations of testing and refinement were undertaken to produce a composite robust enough to support a golf ball and water resistant enough to prevent immediate breakdown upon contact with moisture.

The final material was crafted from compostable components, producing a dough-like texture that was pressure-moulded into the desired tee shapes and then dehydrated to achieve a durable finish. A final mould was created, along with a clear and repeatable method for shaping and producing the tees. This ensured a reliable, low-impact production system aligned with sustainable, circular material practices. The final design was realised through multiple iterations of the golf tee, with continual refinement of the composite recipe, mould design, and production method.

This iterative process ensured the product met both sustainability objectives and functional performance standards. The project fulfilled the design brief by integrating biomaterials into a biodegradable solution that exemplified circular consumption principles and challenged traditional product typologies.

The final artefact was presented alongside material samples of the refined composite, offering the audience a clear understanding of its properties and production. This effectively showcased innovative design methods and contributed meaningfully to the ongoing discourse on sustainable material use, ultimately surpassing the expectations of the brief.

Through a comprehensive, hands-on development process, the project demonstrated the practical viability of biomaterials, advocating for a shift towards circular systems and sustainable design thinking in everyday products.

‘Grounds for Grounds’ biodegradable golf tees represent a significant step forward in sustainable material innovation. Designed for single or limited use, the tees directly address the issue of plastic waste and overconsumption in golf, where traditional tees are frequently discarded after just one use.

By challenging the norms of convenience-driven disposability, the project encourages more mindful consumption within the sporting industry. Crafted from a custom composite of bio-glue and spent coffee grounds, the tees have undergone multiple refinements to ensure sufficient strength, moisture resistance, and durability for functional play, while still breaking down harmlessly into the environment. This biodegradable material not only reduces landfill contribution but also enriches the soil, benefiting grass health and simplifying lawn maintenance. Developed through a low-impact, additive-free process, the design prioritises circularity and waste reduction.

As a first prototype, it demonstrates strong potential for future industry collaboration and scaling. Ultimately, the project exemplifies how biomaterials can reshape product design, promote circular consumption, and inspire a shift toward sustainable practices in sport and beyond.

This project highlights the potential of biomaterials in tangible applications, demonstrating how they can reduce environmental impact while offering added benefits. The functional performance of the tee reinforces the idea that we can utilise available resources responsibly, without compromising on sustainability.

The ‘Grounds for Grounds’ biodegradable golf tee project directly addresses the growing environmental impact of plastic and wooden tees, offering a truly imaginative and innovative solution through the use of bio glue and waste coffee grounds. This design not only diverts organic waste from landfill but reimagines how everyday sports equipment can contribute to a circular economy. By utilising spent coffee grounds which are a globally abundant waste product, especially in Australia, the project reframes waste as a valuable resource, reducing reliance on virgin materials and promoting sustainable manufacturing practices.

The design’s uniqueness lies in both its material innovation and its purposeful decomposition. Once used, the tee can safely break down into the soil, even contributing nutrients that may improve grass health and soil structure. This dual-purpose design functions primarily as a golf tee and later as a biodegradable soil enhancer, pushing the boundaries of sustainable sports design.

Its form and function are grounded in a deep understanding of both environmental responsibility and practical user needs. ‘Grounds for Grounds’ is inherently user-centered. It requires no behavioral change from golfers while providing an eco-conscious alternative to traditional tees. The texture and durability of the coffee composite are designed to match or exceed expectations for performance, while its disposability offers a guilt-free solution for environmentally minded players. By seamlessly integrating sustainability into an activity already part of the user’s routine, the product meets individual needs without compromise.

Ultimately, the project is not just a functional product, but also a statement. It invites new opportunities for biomaterial development in sports, encourages industry shifts towards circular systems, and demonstrates that even the smallest items can have a meaningful environmental impact when thoughtfully designed.

The ‘Grounds for Grounds’ project represents an intersection of sustainable innovation, circular economy principles by transforming waste coffee grounds and natural bio glue into high-performing golf tees. The project demonstrates how low-impact materials and mindful design can produce both environmental and social value.

Environmentally, the tees offer a sustainable alternative to the millions of plastic and wooden tees discarded annually. Designed to break down naturally and benefit soil health, they eliminate landfill waste, minimise material use, and support natural regeneration.

Every stage of the lifecycle, from sourcing to decomposition, is carefully designed to reduce ecological harm. Socially, the project supports growing awareness of eco-conscious consumption in leisure and sport, offering a simple, accessible way for individuals to take positive environmental action without changing routine behaviour. Using a familiar waste stream like coffee grounds adds relatability and storytelling that can inspire broader community engagement with sustainability goals.

Commercially, the product has strong market potential, appealing to both casual golfers and eco-conscious clubs. Its blend of performance, biodegradability, and sustainable storytelling sets it apart from traditional golf accessories and positions it well in the growing eco-product sector. It also has potential to scale as promotional or branded merchandise, creating new opportunities for sustainable branding. The project exemplifies circular economy principles by repurposing waste coffee grounds into a functional product, designing out waste and minimising material use. Its simple, efficient construction and use of non-toxic materials ensure low environmental impact.

After use, the tee decomposes naturally, enriching the soil and supporting the regeneration of natural systems. Developed in Victoria, ‘Grounds for Grounds’ reflects the state’s commitment to sustainable, innovative design. It strengthens Victoria’s creative reputation by showing how local solutions can address global challenges through circular, user-focused thinking.

The ‘Grounds for Grounds’ project exemplifies excellence in both circular and sustainable design by transforming commonly discarded organic waste such as spent coffee grounds into a functional, fully bio-degradable product. By repurposing this abundant byproduct and combining it with natural, non-toxic bio glue, the tees offer a regenerative alternative to traditional plastic or hardwood versions, which often contribute to landfill waste or environmental degradation on golf courses.

The project’s design philosophy is grounded in circularity. From raw material sourcing to end-of-life decomposition, every stage is considered to minimise environmental impact. The tees are manufactured with low-energy processes and no synthetic additives, ensuring they return safely to the earth after use, either breaking down naturally on the course or enriching soil as compost. This cradle-to-cradle approach challenges the typical take-make-dispose model and proposes a new way of thinking about product life cycles in sport and leisure industries.

Unlike conventional golf tees, which are often lost or discarded after one use, ‘Grounds for Grounds’ tees are designed for intentional disintegration, where environmental contribution replaces waste. Furthermore, the project highlights how circular design doesn’t need to compromise usability or performance. The form and durability of the tee are carefully tuned to match user expectations, encouraging adoption by golfers without requiring behavioural change. It seamlessly bridges the gap between ecological responsibility and everyday practicality.

By demonstrating how waste can be reimagined as a valuable resource, ‘Grounds for Grounds’ not only sets a precedent for future biomaterial innovation, but also serves as a scalable model for sustainable product design across industries. Its alignment with regenerative principles and tangible environmental benefits makes it a compelling example of circular design excellence.