World’s first fully biodegradable COVID test aims at tackling our massive medical waste problem

A London-based design consultancy has created a concept testing device for Covid-19 that cuts down on the single-use plastic waste that has plagued us since the beginning of the pandemic. An estimated 26,000 tonnes of plastic Covid waste currently pollutes our oceans, according to a study published in November last year. Morrama’s ECO-FLO hopes to curb that number.

“Plastic has been at the front line of the pandemic – face masks, lateral flow tests, and sanitizer bottles” Morrama’s founder and creative director Jo Barnard said. “With new COVID-19 variants constantly evolving, active testing has been and will remain to be an important part of living with COVID-19. At Morrama, we were inspired to create a test kit that doesn’t contribute to the amount of plastic ending up in our landfills, so ECO-FLO was born.”

ECO-FLO was envisioned as a one-of-a-kind test kit that, instead of relying on nasal swabs, uses a saliva sample instead. The kit comes in four parts – the test kit, the test strip, an absorbent pad, and a sachet. While current lateral flow and PCR tests have a much more complicated (and failure-prone) procedure, using the ECO-FLO is much easier and foolproof. Just open the kit up and place your saliva sample in the designated absorbent pad. Close the kit and press the button on the front, and your results get displayed on the test strip. Once you’re done, place the kit back inside its sachet and dispose of it carefully.

The kit itself is made from recycled paper pulp, while the sachet it’s contained in uses a biodegradable Nature Flex film. Morrama mentions that when disposed of, the kit can naturally break down and disintegrate within 4 to 6 weeks.

Aside from being easy on the environment, Morrama mentions that ECO-FLO’s saliva-based testing system is a game-changing innovation too. The London-based studio is tapping into a nascent technology known as Parallel Amplified Saliva rapid POint-of-caRe Test (PASPORT) to make their test kit work. Unlike nasal swabs, which are invasive and also need to be performed with skill, the saliva-based testing kit offers a much more intuitive alternative. Reading the test results are easier too. Unlike current testing strips that read C for Control and T for Test, Morrama’s ECO-FLO uses a “tick box” style to indicate whether the result is positive. The London-based consultancy adds that it could be made available via the NHS or over the counter at pharmacies.

“Existing lateral flow tests were a reaction to the threat of the pandemic and were rolled at-speed to enable at-home testing. As a result, there were almost no considerations about the ease of use and the impact on the environment in either the production or disposal process. Now we have an opportunity to correct these mistakes”, says Andy Trewin Hutt, Associate Director at Morrama. “We have developed ECO-FLO to highlight the need for a more sustainable design. Projecting forward to future pandemics, ECO-FLO could offer a simpler, more accessible and more sustainable option to aid in keeping people safe through instantaneous mass testing, designed with people and the planet in mind.”

Designer: Morrama

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This new eco-friendly take on a traditional straight razor will transform your shaving experience!

I haven’t ever really had to deal with any facial shaving experiences, but watching the male figures in my life has made me realize what a tedious task it can be. However, London based Morrama has decided to tackle all your shaving woes with their Angle Razor Kit. Morrama’s Angle Razor Kit was created in an attempt to celebrate the ceremony of shaving, and to bring some magic back to it.

Straight razors are usually a professional barber’s first choice for a crisp clean shave, however, re-enacting that back at home can be a huge pain! Hence most men tend to go down the cartridge razor route. But did you know traditional straight razors with a single blade are better for your skin as compared to multiple blades? Running multiples blades over your sensitive facial skin can cause damage to the upper surface, encouraging skin irritation and in-grown hair. And so Morrama re-invented a 300-year-old design and brought it straight into the 21st century.

Crafted from milled aluminum and brass, the Angle Razor boasts a weighted handle ideal for creating a pivoted point between your thumb and forefinger, ensuring maximum control. Designed to bring the user as close to holding the razor as possible, the form of the paddle guarantees a precision trim or smooth clean cut. High performance and complete safety were at the top of Morrama’s priority list, hence the razor was designed to fit and balance perfectly in your hand. It also comes along with a complementing stand, to store it when not in use.

The Angle Razor is also eco-friendly! Recyclable and disposable (plastic-free) blades can be paired up with it, allowing you to abandon the usual disposable men’s razors. According to Morrama 2 billion of them are thrown away every year, and the economical replaceable razors are a much greener option! Comprising of 3 components, the razor comes with a detachable handle. You can easily unscrew the handle and slightly push back the head, to expose a slot to place the blade in. Within moments, your razor is ready for use, and with a bit of practice, Morrama promises you’ll never be able to go back to your previous shaving habits! Available in anodized black and silver, the minimalistic razor is a must-have in every man’s grooming kit, and also a boon to the environment!

Designer: Morrama

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