Spotted: At any given time, there are approximately two million people behind bars in the United States according to the Prison Policy Initiative. And an estimated 68 per cent of released prisoners are re-arrested within three years, which jumps to a massive 83 per cent before a decade is up.
Knitwear company FutureStitch, which is based in the US, is looking to end this cycle by providing meaningful work, new skills, and mental health support to once-incarcerated women.
Reintegrating into society post-incarceration is an uphill battle, and finding work is foremost among the barriers. On top of providing a stable job, FutureStitch has an education programme in its US facility. It provides the women who work there with essential skills like sending emails and using Google Docs in tandem with more entrepreneurial expertise so they can work towards reaching managerial roles.
As a leading manufacturer of socks that also has capabilities in shoes and circular knit, FutureStitch has already made waves in the industry. And Nike, Under Armour, Stance, Crocs, Toms, New Balance, Lulu Lemon, and the NBA number among its partners.
In line with its social justice ethos, sustainability is woven into the company’s operations. For example, the FutureStitch facility located just outside of Shanghai received the highest possible LEED Platinum Certification for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility at every stage of its operations.
In the archive, Springwise has spotted other fashion companies with a focus on inclusion. These include another startup that also mainly hires formerly incarcerated individuals and a social enterprise that provides women with craft-based employment opportunities.
Industrial design student Avia Revivi has designed a biodegradable toilet paper named O-SOW, which integrates seeds to encourage plant growth.
Revivi first devised the product to be used by people going to the toilet outdoors during a hiking trip in an Israeli desert.
“There were days when I didn’t encounter any other travellers, but I did come across toilet paper,” the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design student told Dezeen. “That’s when I realised that I wanted to solve this problem.”
Avia Revivi created a seeded toilet paper
O-SOW was made from orange, aloe vera and plant seeds for hikers who “prefer to sow and fertilise the earth, rather than leave human waste behind”. She incorporated orange for its flexibility properties and aloe vera due to its softness.
She explained that the quick decomposition of citrus combined with active E.coli bacteria, which can be found in human faeces, allows the toilet paper to biodegrade quickly when left in the wild.
Each sheet of O-SOW contains different seeds
“Since we are talking about an orange slice, it can easily dissolve in moisture and liquids,” said the designer.
“Animals eat it, it decomposes in the ground and even on a sidewalk on the street.”
The O-SOW sheets are egg-shaped
Each packet of toilet paper has different seeds woven into it that travellers can choose based on the vegetation in their travel area.
“Seeds of different plants are woven into O-SOW and with the help of the nutrient-rich human waste, natural seeding occurs simply through its use,” said Revivi.
“The seeds I used are mint, peony, rose, parsley and cress, but I aim to map popular trekking areas and assign each a number of seeds suitable for growing.”
In ideal conditions, the seeds in the O-SOW toilet paper can nourish the soil and grow plants when dispersed.
O-SOW is wrapped in single-use packaging made from biodegradable paper, has a tear thread for opening, and a label which highlights the seed type and the number of sheets in the package.
The sheets incorporate orange and aloe vera
Revivi also designed a case made from leftover parachute fabric which can be used to carry the remaining sheets, once the package is open.
To keep the sheets moist the case also has an inner coating and, for easy opening, it has a layer of polyex which creates high friction allowing the sheets to be taken out individually.
Revivi created a case using parachute fabric
After researching the most adequate and suitable wiping method, Revivi chose a rounded shape as she found its length and width would be suitable for different hand sizes and would allow dual wiping. Each sheet has a smooth side and another side which is slightly dotted to increase users’ grip.
“When choosing the shape, it was important for me that there would be a double response option that would be product-oriented and look pleasant and promising but renewable and supporting the product values,” she said.
“It is a little thicker than toilet paper, very flexible and strong. It can break like ordinary paper, but only if you try.”
Each sheet has a smooth side and a textured side
To come up with the most efficient and convenient wiping design, Revivi conducted a study with four participants who used the sheet at different points during a two-month trip.
She asked them questions about the material and shape before giving them new products to try based on their feedback.
“It seems that the conventional square-shaped toilet paper we are familiar with doesn’t serve its purpose during the act of toileting,” she explained. “However, manufacturing square-shaped sheets is easier and more convenient for factories, even though the corners remain clean when used.”
“This prompted me to explore and discover a new and innovative way for effective toileting,” she continued.
O-Sow aims to makes use of human waste to grow plants
Other sustainable product design stories recently published on Dezeen include a rewilding trainer which enables the dispersion of plant seeds by Central Saint Martins graduate Kiki Grammatopoulos and a biodegradable juice bottle made from a potato starch-based material.
Spotted: In many countries, agriculture faces a shortage of both skilled and unskilled workers. According to recent research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), much of the decline comes from the combination of a long-term decrease in agriculture’s percentage of GDP, technological advances, and changes in consumer demand. In order to fill some of the sector’s workforce gaps, UK agritech company Wootzano created a fresh produce packing robotic system called Avarai.
Designed explicitly to work alongside human packers, the robot’s hands have integrated electronic skin called Wootzkin that provides the smart machine with the ability to grasp, pick up, and move fragile produce. Avarai’s algorithm allows distributors to set parameters that include vine length and package weight for every type of produce. When installed on the packing line alongside and amongst current workers, the robot increases productivity by up to 50 per cent, according to Wootzano. Avarai’s arm moves on six axes to allow for optimum angles when handling non-uniform, fragile fruits such as grapes and vine tomatoes.
Using advanced vision technology alongside the algorithms and cloud updates, Avarai continually learns and improves. Each set of robotic fingers is unique, and the e-skin makes it possible for Avarai to handle delicate fruits with no internal or external damage. Additionally, when the robot picks up a piece of produce, it automatically weighs it, making it easy to pack to retailer specifications.
As part of Wootzano’s goal to democratise robotics, the company provides the system via lease, meaning that even very small packhouses can afford the technology. The lease cost per robot is set at the price of a human labourer’s salary. That allows businesses flexibility to decide whether to prioritise production capacity increases of around 25 per cent or salary savings and then make changes as the available workforce expands or contracts.
Already in use by a European provider of table grapes, Wootzano expanded into the United States in the second half of 2023, beginning with partnerships with California producers.
Other examples spotted in Springwise’s archive of robots that help to improve the food supply chain include pest-control indoor robots and a solar-powered weed-seeking field robot.
Spotted: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has enormous energy potential, with large reserves of oil, natural gas, and uranium, as well as ample hydroelectric, biomass, solar, wind, and geothermal resources. However, less than 10 per cent of the population currently has access to electricity.
Solar energy company Nuru (Swahili for ‘light’) is working to change this with solar-based mini-grids that it hopes to use to help bridge the country’s energy gap. Nuru’s utility-scale solar ‘metrogrids’ are designed to provide the DRC’s urban communities with round-the-clock reliable and renewable energy.
Nuru has recently closed $40 million (€36.6 million) series B equity funding round, with participation from the International Finance Corporation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and the Renewable Energy Performance Platform, among others. The company also anticipates the closing of an additional $28 million (around €25.6 million) in project finance very soon.
The funds will enable Nuru to begin construction on three projects, which will have a combined capacity of 13.7 megawatt-peaks. These will join Nuru’s 1.3-megawatt solar hybrid metrogrid site in Goma, currently the largest off-grid mini-grid in sub-Saharan Africa, and three other solar sites already in operation.
Speeding up the roll-out of solar power is the goal of a number of recent innovations spotted in the Springwise archive. These include a digital field factory for the on-site construction of solar farms and modular solar systems designed to bring power to remote areas.
This exclusive video published by Dezeen reveals the launch of a new global architecture competition to reimagine affordable housing, hosted by construction-scale 3D-printing company ICON.
The competition is called Initiative 99 and invites architects and designers to submit home designs that can be built for under $99,000 (USD).
Initiative 99 has a $1 million total prize purse and is open to all countries. Firms, individuals, and university students are all encouraged to participate.
The company has committed to building a selection of the winning designs in locations to be announced in the future.
ICON has launched a global architecture competition reimagining affordable housing
More than 1.2 billion people across the planet lack adequate shelter, according to ICON, which invites designers and architects to leverage robotic construction techniques in tackling this issue with their home designs.
By employing ICON’s 3D-printing technology, submissions can depart from more traditional flat walls in order to create “entirely new types of homes”.
The multi-phase, year-long competition enlists the help of a judging panel of architectural practitioners, academic leaders and policy makers.
Among the panelists are Shajay Bhooshan, associate director at Zaha Hadid Architects.
Entry for the Initiative 99 competition is now open
ICON is headquartered in Austin, Texas, where it is currently building a neighbourhood of 100 3D-printed homes, designed by Danish architecture studio BIG.
In 2022, NASA awarded ICON a $57 million contract to develop roads, launchpads and homes on the moon.
Submissions for the Initiative 99 competition are now open. To read more about Initiative 99, visit its website.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for ICON as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
Spotted: According to the World Economic Forum, between 15 and 20 per cent of the global population is neurodiverse. This includes individuals with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and dyslexia.
For many neurodiverse individuals, it is easy to become overwhelmed when navigating public spaces and everyday activities. Now, Magnusmode is working to help neurodiverse people gain independence in daily living with step-by-step digital guides.
Magnusmode has developed a free mobile app called MagnusCards that provides digital ‘card decks’ for everyday activities in categories such as money, safety, shopping, and food. Each deck provides images, detailed step-by-step instructions, and positive, encouraging reinforcement for basic transactions. The collectible decks have been created in partnership with various businesses and non-profits and are designed to walk users through tasks such as ordering food in a restaurant and getting a library card.
In December 2022, Magnusmode teamed up with Huntington Bank to create a card deck specifically designed to help neurodiverse individuals become more financially independent. The Huntington Card Decks feature real-life scenarios such as paying with a debit card, using an ATM, and paying bills. The guides feature two Huntington Bank employees who are themselves neurodivergent.
Increasingly, innovators are looking at ways to boost accessibility across various industries. In the archive, Springwise has also spotted an education platform to help unbanked communities and a plugin that helps travel agencies serve disabled customers.
A building envelope is the armor that protects inhabitants, as well as interior finishes, furnishings and equipment. In the walls, roof, flooring, healthy materials are important to anyone suffering respiratory problems, like allergies and asthma. A well-designed home envelope is durable, healthy, insulating, and tightly sealed. Panelized construction homes are engineered to bring these qualities together.
In a well-sealed building, fresh air is provided through controlled ventilation systems, ensuring occupants breathe healthier, filtered air, and removing pollutants produced inside the home (dust, CO2, natural gas byproducts, etc.). Heating and cooling are maintained more efficiently and more comfortably, without leaking conditioned air through gaps in doors, walls, and ceilings. This means no drafts or ingress of polluted air, particularly during pollen or smoke advisories! SIPs have uniform insulation, which means there are no cavities where moisture might accumulate and promote mold, mildew, or rot.
Where you’re stopping air leaks you’re also blocking noise transmission pathways, leading to a quieter, and perhaps more private, living situation.
The components in insulated panels (including adhesives) meet some of the most stringent standards for indoor air quality, with low off-gassing. SIP panels have such low formaldehyde emission levels that they easily meet or are exempt from US Housing and Urban Development and California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards.
Spotted: As industries around the world push ahead in their plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some of the changes being introduced are, ironically, contributing to the continued growth in the global plastics market. As vehicles seek to reduce weight in order to run more efficiently, plastics are often one of the first materials to be considered as a replacement for steel and other heavy metals. That is only a short-term solution, however, as UN member states negotiate a legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution.
Innovators are increasingly looking for multi-purpose solutions to the complex plastics problem. Many companies seek to reduce waste or emissions while cleaning current damage to the environment. One such company, Paris-based Dioxycle, created a system that uses industry emissions as feedstock for the production of sustainable manufacturing of the chemical ethylene.
The process directly captures emissions from manufacturing plants and separates the carbon from impurities. After cleaning, the captured carbon passes through layers of catalytic membranes in the company’s proprietary low-temperature electrolyser. Powered by renewable energy, the carbon is then transformed into ethylene, a building block of modern manufacturing. The chemical is used in heavy industry to produce products that range from diesel and ethanol to recyclable plastics, adhesives, and furniture. Dioxycle’s goal is to recycle 600 megatonnes of carbon annually and it is currently testing the technology in two locations – one in France and one in California.
An important aspect of the system is its affordability. The company explicitly works to provide end users with a sustainable ethylene chemical product that is equal to or lower in cost than fossil fuel-produced versions.
In the archive, other innovations spotted by Springwise that highlight ways of using captured carbon include nanotubing that could replace copper wires in myriad items and carbon-negative textiles.
Dutch architecture studio Overtreders W has created Stable Stack, a temporary cabin hotel built using straps and borrowed materials, in Veenhuizen, the Netherlands.
The studio found the materials for the cabin in the village of Veenhuizen, sourcing concrete gutters and wood from carpenter Peter Kroes and roof tiles and paving slabs from Riedstra farm.
Stable Stack features a strap-fastened structure built with borrowed materials
Instead of gluing, drilling or screwing, Overtreders W opted for tie-down straps to fasten the structure, so that the borrowed materials could be returned without damage and devaluation.
The studio also used the green straps as decorative elements and to add another layer of texture to the stable, “emphasising the versatile and innovative character of the structure,” it said.
Stable Stack is a temporary hotel room with a view of farmland
The studio designed the temporary accommodation to highlight Veenhuizen’s craftsmanship, history and environment.
The village, which is now a World Heritage Site, was first built as a reform housing colony, Landbouwkolonie Veenhuizen [agricultural colony Veenhuiz] by the forced labour of homeless people 200 years ago.
“In line with the modest history of the place, where labour and life took place with limited resources, this cosy dwelling has been created,” said Overtreders W.
“Stable Stack showcases the beautiful possibilities that the combination of craftsmanship and sustainable handling of materials can offer.”
Components were stacked and secured with straps
Stable Stack, which is located in a peat meadow landscape and overlooks farmland, forms part of Veen Huis Hotel.
This is a project that celebrates 200 years of the village by maker and thinker collective Ketter&Co and local hotel Bitter & Zoet.
Stable Stack is one of seven temporary accommodations
It comprises seven temporary accommodations, created in unconventional ways, and opens its door for guests from May to October 2023.
“With a revaluation of the relationship between man and landscape and an explosion of creativity, the Veen Huis Hotel inspires an urgent conversation about the future of Veenhuizen as an experimental agricultural colony,” said Ketter&Co.
It was secured and decorated with green straps
Hester van Dijk and Reinder Bakker founded and head Overtreders W, a small Amsterdam architecture studio specialising in temporary structures.
At Dutch Design Week 2017, the studio collaborated with Bureau SLA and designed the People’s Pavilion with borrowed and reclaimed materials. The pavilion was the venue for Dezeen’s Good Design for a Bad World talk series.
More recently, the studio built a demountable exhibition pavilion with pink hempcrete and recycled timber.
Spotted: Storing living cells is a tricky and expensive process due to the necessity of temperature control to keep them stable, and the vast majority of biological material currently needs to be stored either in freezers, refrigerators, or more rarely as freeze-dried powders. One group of researchers hope to change this.
Researchers at California Polytechnic State University have developed a new way of storing such biological materials, in a solid state. The solid-state storage transforms the material or protein into something that resembles a tablet shape that can then be dissolved and utilised, without the fear of it having degraded.
The advent of solid-state storage represents a new ability in the scientific community to far more easily and cheaply store and transport biological material. Research lead Dr Javin Oza referred to the innovation as “easy as an Alka-Seltzer tablet, just drop it into water, mix, and it’s ready to go”. The storage technique has been demonstrated on RNA (a nucleic acid that’s essential for protein synthesis) and also on CRISPR-Cas9 (a genome-editing tool).
While in its early stages, researchers are optimistic that further improvements will allow the solid-state storage to become refined. It will need to be developed for specific uses, with specific coatings to help it be resistant to extreme heat, humidity, and chemicals. The method could also allow biological material to one day be taken as a tablet rather than intravenously, potentially meaning that medicines like insulin would be taken orally, transforming the lives of millions of diabetics.
Springwise has spotted other innovators in the archive working to improve access to therapeutics, including some who’ve developed a vaccine printer and one startup delivering solar fridges for vaccination transportation.
