According to studies, almost 83% of our every day garbage is not sorted and recycled. That means a lot of it is just thrown into landfills and most of them just stay there rotting for years, maybe even decades. If we are able to properly sort them properly, even just a small percentage, and dispose of them in a more circular manner, including recycling and upcycling, then it will be better for our planet. The problem sometimes though is that people and even machines still don’t know how to sort and recycle properly.
Designer Name: Romain Pellat
With the advent of robotics and A.I, our garbage disposal should be better. This is what Binko aims to do. It is an AI-powered recycling robot that should help homes and offices to improve the way they do their waste disposal. It is able to auto-recognize the different kinds of garbage, sort them properly, and then crush them accordingly.
The concept device looks like a vendo machine but instead of it giving you your drink or snack of choice, you feed it your garbage. The machine and the accompanying app should be able to recognize more than 2.6 million waste items. Then it will compress or crush the garbage into small pieces and is able to hold an average of 8 times more resources. The system is able to sort it into one of the 7 transparent compartments that can be adapted according to location.
The app will be the first to launch and it can immediately help people into recognizing how to sort their garbage using the AI-powered photo recognition process. It also gives you a map of nearby recycling bins and even reminds you to take out your trash. That in itself is useful even as Binko will probably take more time to be created.
Recent UN reports indicate that 55% of the global urban population lives in cities, and this is expected to rise to 68% by 2030. While cities drive 80% of the world’s GDP, they also significantly contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. Key challenges include climate change impacts, high carbon footprints, waste management, depleting water tables, and air and water pollution, all requiring urgent action.
Cities are combating climate change, largely driven by fossil fuels, by promoting public transport, electric cars, and cycling. Efforts also include designing green urban spaces and creating urban forests to cool cities and act as carbon sinks. Recent flooding in desert cities like Dubai and Saudi Arabia highlights the need for resilient infrastructure. Solutions involve robust infrastructure, effective drainage, sustainable stormwater management, and green urban planning to reduce flooding risks.
Paris Agreement: In 2015, nearly 200 countries signed the Paris Agreement at COP21, aiming to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It calls for localizing climate initiatives in cities and improving local climate governance.
Casa Jardin, designed by architect Rodolfo Tinoco near Costa Rica’s Tamarindo Beach, is a fully self-sustaining, off-grid home showcasing modern sustainability. Featuring lush gardens, solar panels, and a recycled water system, it offers privacy and environmental efficiency with a vertical garden that regulates temperature and grows edible greens. Elevated on V-shaped stilts to address rising sea levels, it includes a leaf-shaped photovoltaic roof for solar energy and integrates rainwater harvesting and sewage treatment for irrigation. Inside, a neutral palette and teak wood accents create a naturally lit, beach-inspired space, emphasizing luxury and sustainability in tropical living.
Global warming has been ongoing for years, with its most pronounced effects felt in the Arctic, where rapid ice melting disrupts climate patterns worldwide. Project ARCSTAR proposes a biocomposite structure made from biowaste materials to cool Arctic waters and support ice formation. This initiative aims to mitigate ice loss by lowering water temperatures and using sustainable materials like sulfur-free lignin and calcium carbonate. While promising as a short-term measure, ARCSTAR highlights the need for broader, systemic shifts toward sustainability to address the root causes of climate change effectively.
Coastal communities are on the front lines of climate change, facing rising sea levels. In response, architects are pioneering solutions like the Maldives Floating City (MFC), a sustainable urban project planned near Male. Designed by Dutch Docklands, MFC features a modular, floating layout inspired by Brain coral, anchored to barrier islands to mitigate sea-level rise impacts. This innovative city aims to blend green technology with residential and commercial spaces, setting a precedent for future climate-resilient urban development worldwide.
2. Greenhouse Emissions
Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions include promoting renewable energy, low-carbon fuels, and LEED-certified green buildings that save 20-30% more energy than conventional ones. Oslo a leading green city in Norway, leads in recycling, public transport, clean air, and renewable energy. Singapore uses smart planning to harness solar energy for housing and integrates artificial wetlands to maintain ecological balance.
Stanford University researchers have developed innovative, eco-friendly paints that regulate indoor temperatures by reflecting sunlight and infrared radiation. These paints, including colors like orange, yellow, blue, and white, reduce the need for air conditioning by managing heat absorption and retention. Their dual-layer design utilizes infrared-reflective aluminum flakes and infrared-transparent nanoparticles to achieve significant energy savings—36% less heating in cold conditions and 21% less cooling in warm conditions—compared to traditional methods. This breakthrough addresses the substantial energy consumption and environmental impact of heating and cooling systems, offering a sustainable solution for buildings and urban environments worldwide.
3. Air and Water Pollution
Increased vehicles and traffic cause air pollution, while untreated factory sewage leads to water contamination. Beijing combats air pollution with strict vehicle quotas and reduced coal use to lower harmful PM2.5 levels. In the UK, the Broads Waterways face phosphorus pollution, damaging water plants. Cleanup methods like phosphate stripping and suction dredging are being explored.
Pure Bubble offers an innovative solution to urban air pollution with its outdoor air purification concept, resembling dandelion-inspired bubbles equipped to detect, analyze, and clean polluted air. Each bubble features three layers: a helium-filled outer layer for mobility, a reusable filtering layer using patented TPA technology, and a wind-powered recharging motor. These self-illuminating bubbles purify air as they float, extracting minerals from pollutants and contributing to improved air and water quality in urban environments. Positioned strategically, Pure Bubble aims to mitigate the health impacts of air pollution and support global efforts in environmental sustainability.
Designers Lucy Zakharova and Ted Lu propose ‘En·cap·su·lat·ing’, a revolutionary project aimed at addressing ocean pollution. This initiative involves deploying a network of five dynamic capsules made from plastic waste sourced from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, spanning 1.6 million square kilometers. Each capsule operates at different ocean depths, moving cyclically with floating plastic islands to evenly distribute their cleaning efforts. Beyond pollution mitigation, these capsules serve as research hubs, monitoring deep-sea conditions and biodiversity impacts, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable environmental solutions to safeguard marine ecosystems.
4. Depleting Water Table
Rapid urbanization strains city infrastructure and depletes water tables. Cities respond with alternative water sourcing, rainwater harvesting, and vertical farming, alongside public education to change water usage habits. Comprehensive water management integrates fresh water, rain, storm, and wastewater. China’s Sponge Cities use permeable surfaces and green spaces to capture, filter, and store water, reducing floods and promoting reuse, enhancing climate resilience.
Hydraloop is a compact water recycling system that fits seamlessly into any home or building and its technology recycles up to 95% of shower and bath water, reducing reliance on fresh water and lowering sewage emissions. Designed for ease of installation and operation, Hydraloop systems clean and disinfect water using a six-step process without chemicals, making it safe for non-potable uses like toilet flushing and irrigation. By conserving water and lowering energy costs, Hydraloop supports sustainable living and contributes to global efforts in water conservation and climate action.
5. Plastic and Waste Disposal
Cities combatting plastic pollution emphasize waste reduction through recycling and composting. Urban areas contribute significantly to marine plastic debris, threatening ecosystems and human health. Quezon City, Philippines, innovates with a “cash for trash” program exchanging recyclables for environmental credits. The Maldives transitions to a circular economy, enhancing waste management with sustainable infrastructure and optimized collection systems to create valuable products from recycled plastics.
The Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) is designed for homes and small buildings to address the accumulation of plastic bags and other soft plastics. Resembling a kitchen appliance, it compresses these plastics into bricks for easy transportation to recycling centers. Simple to use, it turns plastic waste into solid cubes bound by melted plastic, facilitating their handling and recycling. Clear Drop, the manufacturer, ensures collaboration with recycling facilities to safely break down these bricks without emitting harmful fumes, making the SPC a practical solution for sustainable waste management at home.
Cities tackling global challenges require cooperation among governments, businesses, civil society, and residents for sustainable development. Effective climate change adaptation includes increasing tree cover and preserving green spaces to enhance the quality of life, absorb carbon emissions, mitigate urban heat islands, and provide natural flood protection.
The fashion industry is known for its striking designs, lavish materials, and sometimes mind-blowing forms, but it also has a dirty little secret when it comes to sustainability. Many of those materials, processes, and even ingredients have a tendency to harm the environment, especially mass-produced pieces of clothing, accessories, and footwear. Even something that sounds so innocent like the rubber soles of shoes can have a long-term negative impact on the planet’s health, especially when they’re thrown away without much thought. Although it’s not enough to make this discarded material disappear, these distinctive artistic stools help reduce their numbers while providing furniture that makes an impact in more ways than one.
According to figures, 20 billion pairs of shoes are produced each year, and nearly all of those end up in landfills sooner or later. Footwear is usually made with half a dozen synthetic materials, with outsoles using plenty of rubber that takes more than a hundred years to decompose. Burning them, on the other hand, releases toxic gases, which is usually what happens in garbage disposal sites. Even though the process still uses water and energy, recycling these materials is still a significantly better way to deal with all the waste.
WU is a line of stools that does exactly that, giving new life to shoe soles that result in an even more interesting design. 90% of each stool’s raw materials are made from recycled rubber shoe materials, about 15kg of material that is equivalent to 60 rubber soles. It’s a small number compared to the amount of shoes being thrown away, but even just 10 of these stools mean 600 shoes are kept away from landfills.
The resulting design is quite intriguing as well. The raw materials are classified according to color to have a more uniform appearance, but the uniqueness still comes out in tiny bits of colors and microtextures. If some recycled plastics create a terrazzo effect, the recycled rubber soles result in finer and smaller pieces that have a grainy appearance as if painted with oils or mixed in with concrete.
The shape of the WU stool is also unusual, with a hexagon seat and a three-pointed base. This makes it easy to combine the stools into a larger form like a bench, though the connection will be superficial and perhaps a bit unstable. When placed together, these stools paint a rather eye-catching picture, almost literally, as if somebody took reality and applied a mosaic filter on it. Either way, no one will be the wiser that these were probably made from the pair of shoes they threw away years ago.
The more buildings we put up to address the growing needs of our civilization, the more materials and energy are consumed along with a rise in waste. And these structures don’t last forever, so the unsustainable process happens over and over again. The need for more sustainable alternatives to building materials has never been greater, especially at the rate that we’re building, tearing down, and rebuilding structures. This new kind of cinder block alternative is trying to be that answer, and it’s notable not just for its composition but because of the interlocking design that makes it easy to build a wall and, when the time comes, take it down again and reuse the blocks for some other building.
Although your typical cinder block isn’t completely harmful to the environment, they are simply wasteful and inefficient. Putting together a wall requires a lot of time, effort, and materials like mortar to give it strength, and even then it’s not that strong anyway. And if you have to, say, move the wall or remove it completely, there’s no other method other than demolishing that wall and then building a new one from scratch.
PLAEX-crete attacks the problem of concrete blocks from two angles: composition and construction. Unlike other sustainable blocks, PLAEX doesn’t hesitate to get down and dirty, using materials that are considered different to recycle, including agricultural, marine, and industrial plastic waste and aggregate waste from the construction industry. Each block is made up of more than 90% recycled waste but is 33% lighter than traditional cinder blocks while also stronger.
The material alone isn’t enough to radically change the construction industry, though. The second part of the two-hit combo that PLAEX delivers is the shape of the blocks that look like gigantic LEGO blocks. The interlocking mechanism is no joke, however, and allows workers to build up a wall twice the time as regular concrete blocks. Best of all, you don’t even need mortar or other materials to keep the blocks together, and they still end up being more solid, sturdier, and more durable than a cinder block wall.
That same interlocking design makes it possible to disassemble the blocks just as easily so that they can be reused, saving money and resources. A modification of the design has also given birth to the PLAEX LinX which supports connections at different angles for more creative shapes and constructions. At the moment, PLAEX can only be used for non-occupancy walls, but work is underway to make the material certified for homebuilding, at which point it could revolutionize the construction industry with its environment-friendly and convenient design.
As someone who manages ecommerce stores and is also a frequent consumer of products from various online stores, I see a lot of waste when it comes to packaging. There are a lot of single-use plastics lying around our office and my house that I often feel guilty about contributing to all that waste. While we still try to re-use what we can, I do hope that there will be better packaging solutions that can be adapted by the general public.
Craste is a company based in India that is the country’s first 100% tree-free packaging solution. Since the country produces 500 million tonnes of crop residue every year which contributes to 150 million tonnes of carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere, they thought of using crop waste to create eco-friendly packaging. They collected crop residue from the farmers and then convert it to tree-free pulp through a circular fiber technology (whose patent is still pending). This process uses less water consumption and Zero Level Discharge from the unit.
The pulp is then turned to high-quality paper that can be used for different kinds of packaging like boxes, paper bags, envelopes, etc. The packaging created is also food-grade so it’s safe for food products. It is also strong but flexible that it can retain the form and shape of the packaging it is turned into. They also aim to create “highly durable, environmentally friendly, cost-effective, wood-equivalent crop residue derived straw panel board with a formaldehyde-free adhesive”.
One issue with alternative packaging of course is the cost. Things like single-use plastic, bubble wrap, and the likes are pretty cheap and the more eco-friendly options are more expensive. Hopefully if companies like Craste can create more sustainable packaging for brands, we’ll be able to have better packaging consumption in the next few years.
Amidst global concerns of exceeding the Earth’s capacity, upcycling has gained prominence as a solution, driven by conscious consumption and the circular economy’s principles. Upcycling helps reduce the amount of waste that would have made it to the landfills and repurposes items that would have been discarded, giving them a second life without degradation. It facilitates two out of the three Rs of recycling: REDUCE and REUSE.
Contrary to common belief, upcycling differs from recycling in that it repurposes materials without sacrificing their original quality. While recycling breaks down materials like plastic, paper, glass, and metal to produce new items, typically of inferior quality, upcycling maintains the integrity of the original materials, providing limitless opportunities to breathe new life into old items.
Upcycling
Upcycling involves gathering products or waste to repurpose or reuse, enhancing their value without breaking them down, thus maintaining their original characteristics, strength, and durability. This approach avoids any degradation of the material or product. Materials such as rubber and denim lend themselves well to upcycling, showcasing their versatility and potential. For instance, turning old jeans into patches for a blanket maintains the integrity of the denim, showcasing upcycling’s creative potential.
Recycling
Recycling involves gathering products or waste for breakdown and transformation into new items, requiring a specific process that can alter the original characteristics of the material or product. Each recycling cycle diminishes the material’s strength, and only certain materials are suitable for recycling; for instance, rubber presents challenges in the recycling process.
What are the different categories of upcycled products?
Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are now ubiquitous, yet their disposal poses environmental risks due to improper handling. Project Afterlife offers a solution by upcycling old smartphones instead of recycling them. This concept transforms devices into kinetic art objects, enhancing ambiance while conserving energy and resources. The product, resembling a taco-shaped crescent made from recycled plastic, provides an interactive platform for repurposed smartphones. With Project Afterlife, simply tilt the device to switch between different modes, like the “Endless Clock” and the “Timeline” photo stream, without touching the screen. This shows how upcycling helps the environment and makes everyday objects more valuable.
In recent years, there has been a surge in supporting brands that prioritize sustainability, including upcycling and recycling materials. Ikea is joining this trend with their new collection, VÄXELBRUK, made from recycled coworker uniforms. This innovative line features 16 textile-based items, blending old uniforms with recycled materials like polyester from PET bottles. By repurposing these materials, Ikea reduces waste and offers stylish, eco-friendly products. The collection showcases how sustainability and style can go hand in hand.
Recycling reduces landfill waste but can be energy-intensive and alter original designs. Upcycling offers a more efficient option, yet not all materials suit it. For example, discarded skateboard decks are transformed into stylish wall lamps named Heru, Cuna, and Mara. Reshaped into shorter ovals, paired with lighting hardware, and adorned with original artwork, these lamps emit a warm glow, serving as both illumination and minimalist decor, defying their original purpose.
During renovations, some opt to discard furniture instead of considering recycling. However, awareness of consumption and disposal is growing, leading to projects that repurpose items. Oxford Brookes University planned to landfill furniture during dorm renovations, but a student proposed the Upscaling Upcycling project. Disassembling existing furniture, Kurzmann created new designs, such as stackable stools and chairs from old bedframes and drawers. These pieces are well-designed and practical, showcasing the potential of upcycling to save resources and create useful furnishings.
5. PET Bottles
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, known for its durability and lightweight nature, is commonly utilized in manufacturing containers for the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and personal care sectors.
At the core of Oloïd’s innovative design is Archisonic Felt, a high-performance sustainable acoustic absorber made from upcycled PET bottles. Crafted from Archisonic Felt, Oloïd, a sustainable acoustic luminaire resulting from the collaboration between Impact Acoustic and atelier oï, exemplifies the fusion of functionality and artistic expression in modern design. This versatile material offers exceptional sound absorption while redefining the interaction between light and sound. Its Cradle-to-Cradle certification and LEED accreditation underscore its eco-friendly credentials. With 32 captivating colors curated from the Archisonic Felt range, Oloïd empowers users to personalize their spaces, seamlessly integrating organic shapes that transform two-dimensional panels into captivating three-dimensional entities. This luminaire not only sets a new standard for sound-absorbing luminaires but also stands as a testament to the potential of sustainable design in reshaping illuminated spaces.
Researchers highlight that producing a single pair of jeans requires a staggering 7,600 liters of water, prompting global concern among ecologists about denim’s environmental impact. Textile production, notably denim, contributes significantly to water consumption, energy usage, and landfill overflow due to non-biodegradable fibers like synthetics. While recycling remains an underutilized option, upcycling emerges as a promising solution, exemplified by startups transforming old jeans into stylish sunglasses. Mosevic pioneers denim waste reduction by infusing waste denim with bio-resin to craft durable “Solid Denim” sunglasses, adorned with a natural wax finish for longevity. Despite sustainability challenges, initiatives aim to upscale production and inspire similar textile waste solutions.
The 2 Stools from 1 Bicycle project repurposes old bike frames to create unique and functional stools. Each stool features a distinctive design with slanted legs reminiscent of the original bike frames, giving them a striking appearance. One stool has three legs, while the other has four, adding to their individuality. The seat is crafted from recyclable cork, in line with the project’s sustainability mission. These stools not only offer practicality and convenience but also allow people to give sentimental objects like old bikes a new lease on life. With their unconventional aesthetics and eco-friendly materials, these stools are both functional and visually appealing additions to any space.
The growing popularity of bicycles in recent years has brought attention to long-standing environmental concerns associated with their components, particularly inner tubes. Despite being more eco-friendly than cars or motorcycles, bicycles still contribute to pollution due to discarded parts like rubber tires and inner tubes. The TOOB accessories line addresses this issue by repurposing useless inner tubes into practical and stylish products. Handpicked from local shops in Tel Aviv, these inner tubes undergo thorough cleaning and inspection before being transformed into items like TOOB Keychains and TOOB Straps. This upcycling initiative not only extends the lifespan of inner tubes but also supports the local bicycle economy. While inner tubes eventually wear out, TOOB’s efforts help postpone their disposal in landfills, offering a temporary solution until more sustainable alternatives are developed.
In manufacturing, there’s often excess material left unused, contributing to environmental concerns. To address this, manufacturers and designers are increasingly focusing on reducing waste and repurposing leftovers. Recycling and upcycling these materials into furniture and lighting fixtures, like Stackabl’s pendant lamps, offer sustainable solutions. Stackabl’s DIY tool allows users to customize their lamps by adjusting parameters such as length and disc diameter, resulting in unique, eco-friendly designs. Incorporating upcycled materials and energy-efficient LEDs, Stackabl emphasizes sustainability while offering personalized lighting solutions.
In a groundbreaking collaboration with CGV, South Korea’s leading movie brand, designer Haneul Kim has unveiled a remarkable initiative to address the environmental challenge of waste generated by discarded movie screens. These screens, often several meters long, are typically cast aside due to damage, contamination, or the dismantling of theaters. Haneul Kim’s innovative approach transforms these seemingly obsolete materials into stunning and functional lighting designs, marking a significant step towards sustainability in the design industry.
Kim’s inspiration struck when he noticed the perforations on the discarded screens, recognizing a visual similarity to aluminum perforated plates commonly found in industrial applications. This revelation led to the ingenious idea of repurposing the screens’ sound-transmitting function into a source of light emission. The result is a series of portable lamps that ingeniously utilize the small holes in the screens to emit light, turning waste into a source of illumination.
The Waste Screen Recycle project also pays homage to the legendary designer Mario Botta’s iconic shogun lamp. Known for its clean lines and geometric precision, Botta’s lamp incorporates perforations or cutouts, allowing light to diffuse elegantly. Haneul Kim’s homage work demonstrates the potential of waste screens to replace traditional lampshades, showcasing a fusion of sustainability and design aesthetics. The project not only repurposes discarded materials but also reimagines them in the context of established design classics.
The versatility of waste movie screens is further highlighted as Kim extends the project to include furniture pieces such as tables and chairs. These pieces showcase the original patterns found in waste movie screens, adding a touch of uniqueness and character to each creation. By exploring the potential use of these screens as interior materials for the future, Kim is pushing the boundaries of sustainable design and encouraging a shift towards more environmentally conscious practices.
The repurposing of waste movie screens into lighting designs and furniture pieces not only addresses the issue of waste in the entertainment industry but also demonstrates the potential for meaningful utilization across various domains. Kim’s project underscores the exceptional functional and aesthetic qualities of waste movie screens, positioning them as valuable resources for the creation of sustainable and visually striking designs. As the design world continues to grapple with environmental concerns, Haneul Kim’s innovative approach serves as a beacon, pointing towards a future where discarded materials are transformed into objects of beauty and purpose.
