Zero waste by Design

Project

269904

Status

Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS RISING STARS : concepts or ideas submitted by young talents (aged 30 or less)

Project title

Zero waste by Design

Full concept/idea title

Description

Concept: In the future, consumers will no longer throw away one-way packaging, but will refill it in stores at suitable "refilling stations“ Forecast: Substantial reduction in plastic waste -one product replaces 50 products.

Where is your concept/idea being developed or intended to be implemented in the EU?

Please provide a summary of your concept/ idea

The product family Cristilo is a combination of three reusable containers meant to be used for transporting liquid detergent, shower gel/shampoo and other hygiene liquids that might be needed such as hand disinfectants. Cristilo intends to consciously attract both the user and the viewer through combinations of color (detergent), shape and different straps and encourage the user to use them frequently and not throw them away. The body proximity to the user is created through a carrying strap, which can be attached to the hand or to the arm area. Furthermore, the connection to the product is increased as it is viewed and used as an accessory.

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of sustainability and how these would be met

Through carrying the containers on the body while washing / showering, the product is used consciously in order to achieve a frequent use. With the help of a funnel, refilling the returnable bottles is made easier. These could then be refilled at a station in a supermarket, drugstore and so on. Since these bottles become a fashion element while simultaneously being useful, the user gets a sense of wanting to take care of them and use them more often. An every day product gets integrated in more areas of the user’s personal life, which generates a change in them and the way they see products that would usually get thrown away.

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these would be met

Cristilo: "Your Style, Your Choice" Cristilo deliberately stands out due to its angular shape in order to serve the wearer as an accessory and to attract the viewer from the outside as an eye-catcher. Thanks to the transparent material, the user can “adjust” the color individually by adding different detergents, shower shampoos, gels and so on. The reusable bottles are customizable by combining them with different straps which vary in color and material. This way, the desired aesthetic is achieved, showing the user’s own style.  

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of inclusion and how these would be been met

As it was explained before, these containers are customizable, which means anyone can express their own style through the different colors and materials available. Furthermore, this is a product that aims to include both people who have the possibility of washing and showering at home and those who live in big cities or don’t necessarily own a washing machine and have to resort to washing at laundromats. Also, individuals who are always on the move because of work or other reasons can take the containers with them and use them as needed.

Please explain the innovative character of your concept/ idea

Personal hygiene and detergent containers are always seen as throw-away products with no other use. Since Cristilo combines aesthetics/style and function and the products are thought of as one-time purchases, it is aimed to reduce the one-way bottle use and mass consumption of plastic. We know our product’s material is similar to the ones we want to help reduce. Nevertheless, the Cristilo containers change the traditional view of these materials, which are usually seen as waste. Conversely, the materials and containers are explained to the user as important and long lasting products that should be taken care of and used consciously.

Please detail the plans you have for the further development, promotion and/or implementation of your concept/idea, with a particular attention to the initiatives to be taken before May 2022

The future steps towards implementing our products would be to look closely at its production. Since we designed Cristilo during the pandemic, we weren’t able to experiment the most with various manufacturing options and materials. We would therefore like to expand our research towards these areas. Furthermore, we would get in touch with different supermarkets and drugstores in order to understand how we could work together with them and include Cristilo in their product catalogue. Also, the inclusions of refilling stations within the stores and its development would be necessary, therefore we would work on designing a suitable station that can be set up in different contexts.

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that the proposed concept/idea has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Rising Stars Awards more than once in the same category.