The RECRIAR Method in the Development of Sustainable University Furniture: An Application Involving Pallets and Used Tires

Abstract

This article aims to present and apply the RECRIAR method (Creative Reuse for Innovation and Waste Utilization), a methodological approach developed within the extension project “Products of the Future: Sustainable Development through Transformed Waste at the Bagé Campus”, at the Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA). The method is oriented toward the development of sustainable products through the reuse of discarded materials. As a practical application of the method, sustainable furniture was developed for the university campus, including a table made from wooden pallets with embedded power outlets and four puffs produced from reused tires. The adopted methodology follows a mixed qualitative–quantitative approach, involving the identification of available waste materials, the assessment of students’ needs through an online questionnaire, brainstorming sessions, and prototype construction. The RECRIAR method guided all stages of the process, resulting in functional, aesthetically appropriate, and environmentally responsible products. The results indicated positive acceptance among students, who highlighted aspects related to comfort, usefulness, and the contribution of the initiative to environmental awareness on campus. It is concluded that the application of the RECRIAR method presents potential to support the development of sustainable solutions in educational environments and may be replicated and adapted to different institutional contexts.