Franziska Trautmann, February 2026 W.O.N.O.
Sustainability in Carnival is extremely near and dear to our hearts at NOLA Craft Culture. For our February Woman of New Orleans we salute Franziska Trautmann. Tulane alums Trautmann and Max Steitz founded the grassrooots recyling initiative Glass Half Full to transform discarded glass into sand for coastal restoration and have successfully diverted over 6 million pounds of glass from landfills! Our glitter honoring Trautmann is a cool minty blend reminiscent of sea glass.
"Over 12 million more pounds of glass would be in landfills if not for Franziska and her team at Glass Half Full. Started in the backyard of a college fraternity house in New Orleans, Glass Half Full recycles glass into sand for coastal restoration and cullet for the manufacturing of new bottles. Franziska, a Carencro, Louisiana native, graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from Tulane University. This gave her the skills necessary to help lead a research team backed by the National Science Foundation, conducting novel research on the use of recycled glass sand for coastal restoration. They have completed six coastal restoration projects, restoring thousands of meters of coastline and counting. In her spare time, Franziska makes educational TikToks ranging from recycling to climate change to recycling and how individuals can take action. Her page has garnered over 300,000 followers and millions of views."
"Over 12 million more pounds of glass would be in landfills if not for Franziska and her team at Glass Half Full. Started in the backyard of a college fraternity house in New Orleans, Glass Half Full recycles glass into sand for coastal restoration and cullet for the manufacturing of new bottles. Franziska, a Carencro, Louisiana native, graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from Tulane University. This gave her the skills necessary to help lead a research team backed by the National Science Foundation, conducting novel research on the use of recycled glass sand for coastal restoration. They have completed six coastal restoration projects, restoring thousands of meters of coastline and counting. In her spare time, Franziska makes educational TikToks ranging from recycling to climate change to recycling and how individuals can take action. Her page has garnered over 300,000 followers and millions of views."