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Turning the tide on plastic with reusable packaging
CategoriesSustainable News

Turning the tide on plastic with reusable packaging

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: E-commerce is growing steadily, with one forecast predicting that it will reach 23 per cent of total worldwide retail sales by 2027. Unless innovative solutions are found, this growth will come with an equivalent increase in the volume of packaging. Rather than focus on recycling alone, several organisations are now turning to reuse as a way to more rapidly reduce pollution and improve the circularity of their operational processes.

In Germany, a company called The Ocean Package offers a packaging-as-a-service solution consisting of fully traceable reusable boxes. Each box consists of up to 70 per cent recycled polypropylene plastic and 30 per cent virgin materials. To avoid unnecessary dyeing and material treatment, the boxes are all grey – the colour of plastic after it’s been recycled. Up to one-quarter of the weight of the boxes, which are designed to be easily flattened and returned via postboxes, is recovered ocean-bound plastic from the North Sea.

Most of the companies that partner with The Ocean Package are in the subscription and rental sector and have already established reusable packaging cycles. In this application, the organisation’s service integrates seamlessly with these existing processes, and partners agree to return all packaging for recycling at the end of its useful life. The company is also exploring potential collaborations to bring its reusable solution to the B2C sector.

The boxes come in four sizes ranging from small to extra-large, and the accompanying logistics platform tracks every package for its full life cycl. The platform also provides detailed analysis of a company’s processes, and the data can help monitor ESG performance indicators.

The Ocean Package expects to use each box at least 20 times. Each use reduces carbon emissions by 80 per cent from that of traditional packaging systems, and waste is reduced by up to 95 per cent when compared to cardboard. The company’s development plans include expanding its network of partners and working with a broader range of organisations, including those that are not as far along in the circular economy path.

Corn-based laminate and a mushroom-based biodegradable polystyrene alternative are two examples of material innovations in Springwise’s library that could help us replace plastics.

Written By: Keely Khoury

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Bottlecup is a two-in-one reusable water bottle and coffee cup
CategoriesSustainable News

Bottlecup is a two-in-one reusable water bottle and coffee cup

By Zarkon Group,

London studio Seymourpowell has combined an insulated water bottle and a cup with a lid into a single product, Bottlecup, so users only need to remember one item when leaving the house.

The owners of Bottlecup, Kate and Mark Arnell, asked multidisciplinary agency Seymourpowell to help them create a single item that could replace both disposable water bottles and coffee cups.

They found that approximately 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are used and then thrown away each year in the UK, with only one in 400 of those being recycled.

Bottlecup in apricot colour
The product combines a vacuum-insulated bottle with a lidded cup

Recognising that reusable-cup owners often forget to carry their vessel with them, they looked for a way to unite a vacuum-insulated bottle with a lidded cup that can be used for takeaway drinks.

The project team identified that existing reusable bottles or flasks on the market either didn’t provide a cup lid, or didn’t allow the bottle and cup to be used independently of one another.

“Bottlecup innovated to combine a reusable water bottle and reusable cup and cup lid into one seamless item, where both items functioned in their fullest independently of each other without compromise,” the designers explained.

Visual of combined cup and bottle
The cup can be used on its own

The stainless-steel water bottle slots inside the cup and twists to lock it in place when carrying both items. The two elements each feature a gently curved silhouette that improves their ergonomic properties.

The cup can be released with a simple twist and used on its own or with the silicone lid, which is stored in its base so users don’t need to carry it separately when drinking beverages such as smoothies, beer or soups.

The silicone waist provides a tactile surface for holding the product, which makes twisting the cup on and off easier. The coloured band also prevents liquid from leaking into the user’s bag when the two elements are united.

A variety of colour options for the silicone band and cup lid allows Bottlecup to be personalised by selecting a favourite hue when purchasing the product. The cup is also available in a range of colours or in plain stainless steel.

Removable Bottlecup lid
A silicone lid is stored in the base

Sustainability and circular design were key concerns throughout the project, leading to the creation of a product that is plastic-free and uses no mixed materials so all of the component parts can be easily recycled.

“Designing without plastic meant features like push-close lids and mouldable rigid shapes were all restricted from the design,” the project team explained.

“The majority stainless-steel finish has a satisfyingly engineered and qualitative feel,” it added.

Bottles and cup designs by Seymourpowell
The design is available in a range of colours

The 18/8 stainless steel used for the bottle and cup can be collected by curbside recycling services, while the band and cup lid are made from food-grade silicone that can be returned to Bottlecup to be recycled responsibly.

Bottlecup features on the shortlist for the product design (consumer design and wearables) category at Dezeen Awards 2023, alongside projects including the latest version of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip smartphone and a bicycle that can easily switch between analogue and electric riding modes.

Other designs that respond to the issue of waste generated by disposable drinking cups include biodegradable cups made using home-grown vegetables and a circular-economy service called Cupclub that supplies and then recycles its own reusable coffee cups.

Reference

An affordable subscription for reusable nappies
CategoriesSustainable News

An affordable subscription for reusable nappies

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: The average baby goes through approximately 7,000 nappies before they are potty trained, and the vast majority of nappies used around the world are disposable. Considering that there are over 400,000 babies born in Rwanda and over 46 million across Africa annually, the number of nappies generated is staggering. The problems posed by single-use nappies are two-fold: there is a financial burden, with some mothers even needing to delay changing to reduce cost; and the environmental impact of disposing of that many plastic-based nappies. 

Founded with the goal of helping mothers and families provide their babies with a sanitary and dignified alternative to rationing disposable nappies, Kigali-based Toto Safi gives mothers the ability to subscribe and save money on reusable nappies, while also eliminating the wastefulness of single-use alternatives. 

Toto Safi’s nappies are designed and produced in Rwanda through partnerships with local women tailor cooperatives. By choosing Toto Safi, parents can not only make a positive impact on the environment, then, but also contribute to community development and the well-being of local economies. 

The final products are high-quality, affordable, adjustable, and environmentally sustainable. They are also made with breathable and waterproof materials like cotton or bamboo, which means the nappies are gentle on babies’ skin, highly absorbent, and free from chemicals. Customers can either purchase the reusable nappies outright or subscribe for weekly sanitised nappy deliveries, along with the pickup of soiled nappies for cleaning. This system reduces waste and offers parents long-term cost savings.

Toto Safi is currently testing and developing new product lines, including two-in-one diapers, pocket diapers, and adult diapers, to meet diverse customer needs. The aim is to offer a comprehensive range of reusable items like padded underwear, period pants, and incontinence products, providing sustainable and comfortable solutions for people of all ages. 

Springwise has recently spotted other sustainable nappies, such as a reusable nappy made from seaweed, and another disposable one made from biodegradable bioplastic.

Written By: Archie Cox

Reference

A rapid cleaning machine for reusable glasses 
CategoriesSustainable News

A rapid cleaning machine for reusable glasses 

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Europe’s top three coffee-consuming countries drink more than 1,000 cups per person every year. From free reusable crockery on German trains to additional fees charged to customers wanting to use single-use food packaging in the Netherlands, nations around the world are trialling ways to cut down on plastic pollution, particularly in the takeaway food and drink industry. 

Many companies encourage the use and washing of mugs and bowls in the office, and with a goal of reducing the water used to provide such a service, French company Auum has created a new method of cleaning. The Auum-S single glass dishwasher is made from a patented design that disinfects reusable cups in 10 seconds, allowing one washer to clean up to 2,000 glasses per day. The company is building a circular economy with French-made parts and assembly, along with a rental service that ensures that machines are properly maintained, and glasses recycled at the end of their life. 

Auum cups are made from double-walled borosilicate by Swiss glassmakers Bodum and the glasses can be custom branded. The glasses are lightweight and cool to the touch, even after cleaning. The countertop washer cleans a single glass using 140-degree Celsius dry steam and less than a single ounce of water per wash. The high temperature negates the need for chemicals.  

The low rate of water use makes the washer much more economical, both financially and environmentally, than using biodegradable or paper cups or running a traditional dishwasher. In a company with 150 employees, using the Auum-S washer saves up 130,000 litres of water each year and eliminates close to 100,000 disposable cups. 

Countertop appliances are getting smarter and smaller, with Springwise spotting a no-smell compost device as well as a homebrewing solution for plant-based milk.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Jonas Bohlin and Christine Ingridsdotter create reusable bar Underbar
CategoriesSustainable News

Jonas Bohlin and Christine Ingridsdotter create reusable bar Underbar

By Zarkon Group,

Interior architect Jonas Bohlin has designed a bar featuring a wall made from dress shirts and a ceiling decorated with emergency blankets at Stockholm Furniture Fair.

Bohlin worked closely with Christine Ingridsdotter, who previously designed the colouring and textiles for restaurants by Bohlin, on the project.

Underbar at Stockho;m Furniture Fair by Jonas Bohlin and Christine Ingridsdotter
Silvery emergency blankets decorate the ceiling

Called Underbar, a pun on the word bar that means wonderful in Swedish, the space is located at the centre of the Stockholm Furniture Fair trade show and was made from materials that will be reused once the fair is over.

Its design was based on a previous bar that Bohlin created for the furniture fair in the early 1980s, which had the same proportions.

Wall made from dress shirts at Underbar bar at Stockholm Design Week
The back wall is made from dress shirts

All of the bar’s furniture was designed by Bohlin and made in Sweden, and all the materials used for Underbar were chosen so that they could be reused after the fair closes.

“As a designer, there are three things that are of interest: nature, life and the future,” Bohlin told Dezeen. “We wanted to create a space where everything could be reused, nothing would be allowed to be thrown away afterward.”

“We borrowed the shirts for the dress shirt wall from friends who will get them back, while the vases are from second-hand store Myrorna and will be given back to it when the bar closes,” he said.

“The willow mats used for the walls will be used at garden fair Trädgårdsmässan; the chairs I’ve borrowed from restaurants I’ve designed, the tables have already been sold, and the bench was made from wooden flooring and a steel frame that can also be reused.”

View of Underbar at Stockholm Furniture Fair by Jonas Bohlin
Bohlin constructed the lamps for the space himself

The felt lamps were designed by Bohlin for a lighting company that didn’t want to produce them, blaming a lack of time.

“That made me slightly annoyed as I’d already envisioned the lamps here, so I had to sit down and make them all myself,” Bohlin said.

“The idea was that they would be good for the acoustics,” he added. “The best thing is to dampen the sound close to the source, the mouth, which is why I made the lamps from felt and in these half-circle shapes that catch the sound. Some of these will go to a restaurant after and I’ll sell the rest of them.”

Lamps made from felt by designer Jonas Bohlin
Vases were bought from a second-hand store

The bar was made from leather on a steel frame in collaboration with Ahls Mekaniska in Småland, which also helped make the tables.

The ceiling was decorated with emergency blankets that will be donated after the end of the fair, potentially to Ukraine, Bohlin said. His lamps Andromeda and Atom were used to create sculptural lighting designs in the bar.

Close-up of dress shirts used for Underbar bar
Shirts were leant by friends and will be returned

“When I design something I try to relate to the space, play on the space as if it is Chinese chequers – I want to keep something of the history of the space when I create something new and respect the history that has been,” Bohlin said.

“But I also try to create a landscape of dreams,” he added. “We’re all different, and I think it’s important in a public space for everyone to find something – in the colour or form – that they feel safe with or recognise, something they can talk about.”

“Fancy restaurants may target just one typical audience, while I want everyone who comes here to feel welcome and for everyone to have an experience, both of the food and of the spatiality.”

Other projects on show during Stockholm Design Week include a pavilion by Daniel Rybakken in the waters of Stockholm and an exhibition that visualizes the carbon emissions of common materials.

Underbar is on show until 11 February as part of Stockholm Design Week. Browse our digital guide to the festival here and see Dezeen Events Guide for details of other architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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