Ethical, Sustainable and Eco-friendly for All

daisypope
Jun 2, 2019
5 min read

With the recent opening of the Food:Bigger than the Plate exhibition at the V&A museum this week we see two extremely well designed products that are being exhibited there - LooWatt the waterless toilet and Totomoxtle, a Marquetry made from corn. Adding to the mix is a sustainable vegan trainer made from hemp and an interestingly constructed Metamaterial.

Dopekicks

Last week we had the mushroom headphones, a product with many different materials for its components, none of which are typically recyclable. Well this week has seen the release of trainers made from hemp, another product that uses a wide range of materials to create the finished shoe. Dopekicks are vegan and made from all eco-friendly materials. The star of the show is hemp, the main material that makes up the exterior of the shoe. Hemp is a very sustainable material to produce as it needs three times less water than cotton and has minimal soil impact. The hemp is separated from the bark and retts in the field for 4-6 weeks before being pulled in to strands and cleaned of any impurities. A steam explosion technique renders the strands in to a weaveable fibre to create the hemp material to use in Dopekicks. During the manufacturing process of the hemp a waterproof membrane is added to make the trainers hydrophobic so that they can be used on all occasions. The rubber soles of the trainers are made from a material that is made up of upcycled shoes and the insole is cork, creating a a natural cushion that regulates temperature, and is anti-microbial and anti-fungus. The trainers are a fantastic example of how we can change everyday products to be more ecofriendly. By also using ethical labour to manufacture the shoes Dopekicks are really giving people the choice to shop smart and shop sustainably. The catch?.... A pair of these trainers is estimated to set you back $160. It's a lot of money considering there is no scientific evidence backing the claims that Dopekicks are making or any information about their longevity. I'd hate to pay out all that money are find that two months of wear leads to the stitching coming apart. However with full backing on Kickstarter and an estimated first delivery in Sept 2019 I'm sure we will soon see if the reviews of this innovative trainer live up to the claims. Who knows it could lead to a whole line of different sustainable shoes and trainers available. See more at https://www.designboom.com/design/dopekicks-hemp-sneakers-waterproof-shoes-05-30-2019/.

Metamaterial

Scientists at the University of Washington have created a material that could make cycling, driving and even space travel much safer by using a 'crumple zone' effect. The metamaterial they have created takes its inspiration from origami to reduce impact forces. The material includes various folding creases that will crush when under a lot of stress, but afterwards will release. If used in a bicycle helmet the force on the helmet will cause it to crumple and absorb the impact. Therefore by the time the force reaches the wearers head the helmet is already pulling upwards back into position having absorbed all of the force so there is no impact on the head and brain. A prototype model of the material has been made by using a laser cutter to create a series of dotted lines in paper which are then folded into a cylindrical structure. The scientists envision that this material could be used in space travel to soften the impact on landing on the space craft, their next step is making the model from more durable materials. It is an interesting new concept that could potentially be lifesaving for those who use it. There are many application I could imagine Metamaterial being used for not only in bike helmets and space crafts but what about the bikes themselves or even cars? It will be great to see where this material might lead in the future. See the full story at https://www.designboom.com/technology/university-of-washington-origami-inspired-metamaterial-soften-rocket-landings-05-30-2019/.

A Waterless Toilet

Did you know that the UN estimates by 2030 half of the world's population will be living in water stressed areas due to climate change? And even more astonishing the World Health Organisations states that diseases due to poor sanitation causes two million deaths per year. LooWatt has been created, a waterless toilet that also prevents the spread of disease from human waste. The toilet works as the waste is captured and sealed into an airlock biodegradable polymer film which can be collected. The sealed waste is then taken to a specialised anaerobic digester which produces biogas from the waste and can be used as fertiliser and electricity to be sold to create revenue. So far there are 800 people globally using LooWatt, including in the UK, however they have plans for expansion.

"We're shipping several hundred toilets to Madagascar this year, as well as the Philippines, where we have a utility partnership with the water utility that's doing a large-scale rollout of non sewer toilets, " said Gardiner.

"Non sewer-serviced toilets are the future for urban sanitation in many parts of the world. It's the future, but it's also happening right now." (https://www.dezeen.com/2019/05/31/loowatt-waterless-toilet-design/)

The toilet is currently a stand alone unit but can be developed in to cubicles for events such as festivals. I can see that there is a great future for LooWatt. Festivals and events would be a great use of the product. The waste could be used to generate electricity for the event, perhaps this could result in carbon-neutral and extremely environmentally friendly events. It would also be fantastic for camping and for use in caravans and motorhomes. How about if there was a scheme that for every LooWatt that is bought one is donated to a third world country? At the end of your trip maybe you could trade in your sealed waste bags for money so they can go on to be Biogas. There is a lot of potential for this product, it is currently being shown at the Food: Bigger then the Plate Exhibition at the V&A Museum, I am certainly curious to see the toilet in person. See more at https://www.dezeen.com/2019/05/31/loowatt-waterless-toilet-design/

Marquetry made from Maize

Another new material for us to enjoy this week is Totomoxtle.... A very interesting name I know. Totomoxtle has been created by Mexican designer Fernando Laposse in the quest to recycle to waste material from the preparation of corn.

"It's a collaboration between me as a designer, a community of indigenous farmers, and a seed bank that holds the largest collection of corn seeds in the world," Laposse told Dezeen.

"They're providing us seeds from their vaults from 50 years ago that have been almost extinct for the past 25 years. We're now successfully reintroducing species." (https://www.dezeen.com/2019/05/30/totomoxtle-fernando-laposse-mexico-corn-circular-economy-design/)

The various coloured heirloom corns that are produced in Mexico are being put under risk from modern farming due to its irregularity in colour and size. This makes the corn undesirable to industrial scale agriculture who prioritise standardisation. However Laposse has created Totomoxtle which celebrates the irregularities of the corn. The material is made from the corn husks which are peeled of the cobs, ironed flat and glued on to a backing textile. This is laser cut into interlocking pieces to be assembled as the Marquetry. The marquetry has a beautiful variation of colours and patterns which can be used for decorative wall coverings and on furniture as a sort of veneer. Not only is Totomoxtle totally unique and sustainable, it is also re-popularising an endangered species of corn. As a result of this the production of maize is providing employment for the Mexico's vulnerable Mixte people who grow and harvest it. What Laposse has created is genius. A gorgeous product that is sustainable, ethical and gives back to the community while preserving a small part of Mexican tradition. If only there were more companies and small businesses doing the same I'm sure the world would be a much better place. I would certainly love to have a table adorned in a piece of Totomoxtle, it would certainly take pride of place and come with a great story. See more at https://www.dezeen.com/2019/05/30/totomoxtle-fernando-laposse-mexico-corn-circular-economy-design/.