Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

product designparsons school of designsummer 2004

karen wei

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

sustainabledesign

products and services that have been designed to cause less harm to the environment

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

sustainablematerialspapercorkveneercornstarchbamboorecycled productsflaxstrawclaypolyurethane foamrecycled polythenenatural rubbersiliconecoconut fiberscotton

hempjutekevlarpolyester fleecesoybean compositesmdffeltlive plantsdegradable materialswater poweredwind poweredsolar poweredfoodbeeswax…and the list goes on

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

plastic and uses

‘plastic’ is used to describe a number of polymers with different properties and uses

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

the plastic bottle

water bottles are typically made of PET or polyethylene terephthalate which constitutes 44% of all bottles produced

bottles fabricated through blow molding or injection molding to create different shapes

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

the plastic bottlebottled water is the fastest growing beverage industry in the world increasing 500% in the last decade1.5 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water every year3.5% of all plastics generated is recycled (34% paper, 22% glass, 30% metals)most plastic products that have been recycled cannot be recycled more than 6 timesit requires 20000 plastic bottles to recycle 1 ton of plasticplastics account for 6% of household waste in UK

300040005000600070008000

millions of pounds

1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001year

growth in plastic bottle sales (USA)

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

why recycle?

when compared to creating virgin plastics, recycling helps:

• conserve non -renewable fuels and energy

• reduce solid wastes• reduce emissions of

CO2 and nitrogen oxide

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

reuse & rethink

the plastic bottle has a lifespan of 6 or 7 generations.

rethinking and reusing these objects seems to be the more eco - friendly, long term solution.

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

current products

there are some products out there currently that take old PET bottles and reuse them in very different ways, such as fleece, carpet, bottle boats, and bird feeders to name a few…

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

concept ideation

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

concept ideation

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

concept ideation

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

concept ideation

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

concept ideation

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

mock ups

many different materials were explored, such as wax and gummy bears. the forms were molded over used plastic water bottles.

the wax was found to be too brittle and the candy too soft for a long-term vessel.

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

mock ups

the previous explorations directed the project towards the plastic water bottle.

not only is there an environmental need to rethink the use of this waste product, but the bottle provided a simple and sturdy structure from which to build.

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

final product rethink and reuse

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

the creation of a product which both reduces solid waste and stimulates awareness of wasteful objects and practices.

education is the key to change.

concept

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

extracting virgin plastics consumes more energy and produces more toxic by - products than recycling or reusing plastic9 billion plastic bottles are produced annually in the US – 2/3 end up in land fillsrecycling of plastic PET bottles can only occur for 6 or 7 generationsmost consumers have not learned proper recycling practices nor have attractive, eco -friendly choices for reusing waste

issues

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

targetthe product would be sold at retailers that market

• affordable• design

conscious• eco - friendly• simple

products. the internet and smaller eco – conscious boutiques are also likely retailers.

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

jeni has jumped on the bottled water bandwagon. the bottles are so convenient, inexpensive, and everywhere. however, with such a habit, jeni is left with mounds of empty bottles collecting in her room. she knows the plastic is incredibly wasteful so she doesn’t want to throw them in the trash. what is she to do?

scenario

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

sustainablestackablemass producibleeducationalfunctionalaesthetically pleasing

design

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

process

used bottles cutting bottles melting drinking edge

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

final product

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

the vita family encompasses a variety of different products:

• vitacup• vitabowl• vitaplant• vitalight

an informational cd accompanies each vita product about being green.

family

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

vitacup reuses old plastic bottles that can no longer be recycled which helps reduce waste accumulation.

the bottles are treated with a protective, anti -bacterial coat and polished for long term use. the screw cap allows for easy cleaning and dispensing excess liquid. stacking is a cinch either on their own or in the vitabag for people on the go.

cup

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

educateall vita products are accompanied by an informational cd.

the contents of the cd include further information on the vita product line and inspirations, recycling how to’s, the environmental impact, and other products reusing PET bottles today.

in this way, vita hopes to promote an eco - friendly lifestyle and eco – smart society.

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

multipurpose

many uses, many functions, many settings.vita has been used at cafes, restaurants, and for people on the go.use your imagination, a cup is where vita begins but not where it ends.

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

future

currently, vita is focused on reusing bottle tops. however, we are also looking into ways of reusing the rest of the bottle.

we also plan to investigate other avenues of reuse design beyond the water bottle.

Karen Wei | Parsons School of Design | Product Design Summer 2004

sources• http://www.recoup.org/shop/product_documents/33.pdf• http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/pet/recycling.html• http://cyberg.com/fw/ecofurn.htm• http://bradcalv.customer.netspace.net.au/petbot.htm• http://www.opos.it/eng/eng_mostre.htm• http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/environment/recycling/factsheets/plasticbottles.htm• http://www.wasteonline.org.uk/resources/InformationSheets/Plastics.htm• http://www.kingston.ac.uk/~kx19789/rematerialise/html_and_flash/searchwelcome.htm• http://bottledwaterstore.com/vitaminwater.htm • http://www.tbshs.herts.sch.uk/curric/dt/learn/project/eight.htm • http://www.ball.com/bhome/pet/ballrde/products.html • http://www.tufts.edu/tuftsrecycles/more/USstats.html • http://www.eveandersson.com/photos/photo-display?photo_path=%2Fphotos%2Fgermany%2Fberlin-re

cycle-bins&photo_size=large

• http://www.greenaction.org/gallery/gallery009.shtml • http://3rbuilders.net/ • http://www.pnl.gov/breakthroughs/win-spr02/mission.html • http://www.ratical.org/coglobalize/giveback.html• http://www.hiddenart.com/news.asp?ar_id=614 • http://www.agroplastics.com/research/research.html • http://www.container-recycling.org/plastic_facts.htm