Last week, the twenty winners of the What Design Can Do Clean Energy Challenge were announced, during a live talkshow at Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam. Inspired by local energy issues in five world cities, each idea represents another step towards a future free of fossil fuels. Today, we highlight the three exciting projects awarded for México City, all of which offer fresh perspectives on the city’s urgent waste problem.
As of today, México City ranks as the second biggest producer of waste among the world’s megacities. With this in mind, our International Jury selected projects which addressed different aspects of the capital’s waste cycle with creativity and vision. Among the winners are an ambitious student proposal imagining a new ecosystem of sustainable products in the home, and two innovative start-ups which treat waste – and its potential to connect citizens – as a valuable resource.
THE WINNERS
BIOGRÜN: CREATING SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES
BY VALERIA NOVA & NANCY VALERDI | WINNER STUDENT TRACK
Biogrün is an ecosystem of products and services, including a mobile app and four waste and grow units designed to prevent and reduce food waste in an urban context. Together these modules promote domestic food cultivation and waste sorting, while the mobile app facilitates the trade of products like compost, vegetables and dehydrated fruits. Ultimately, all of them are connected to create a sustainable social network.
COMMENTS FROM THE TEAM:
“We feel very motivated now, because all the hours, months and years that we have dedicated to this project will finally find a way to become a reality. Thanks to platforms like this, we are able to create new collaborative networks, and to make visible the work of all the different persons who are creating innovation through different solutions to create a better world.”
comments FROM THE JURY:
“For a student project, this is a very well thought through and ambitious proposal. It brings the whole chain of sustainability to the home. The system and the look and feel of things come together in a very cohesive way. There is an element of design from beginning to end: design in product, process, software.”
ECOPLASO: FOOD WASTE UPCYCLING
BY BARBARA ARTEAGA | WINNER STARTUP TRACK
Ecoplaso transforms fruit and vegetable peels and other organic waste into bioplastic which is 100% biodegradable and compostable. This material can replace petroleum-based plastics as the raw material for the manufacture of products such as disposable plates, straws, bags, furniture and toys. Ecoplaso also has developed an alternative to animal leather out of this organic waste, which can be used in the fabrication of furniture, shoes, accessories and interior designs.
COMMENTS FROM THE TEAM:
“Wohoo! I think creativity is important in the clean energy transition, because it provides better and sometimes faster and more comfortable ways to tackle climate action. One year from now, I see this project replicating itself in different states and countries and developing new sustainable products.“
comments FROM THE JURY:
“This project is a game-changer, thanks to the fact that there is already such high demand for these types of sustainable replacement materials. In this way, this start-up is set to enter a market that is not theoretical. By turning organic waste into plastics and simili-leather, Ecoplaso has the potential to convert tons of waste into something useful at an attractive price.”
ECOLANA, ¡YOUR RECYCLING GUIDE!
BY LISSETH CORDERO, MARIANA SOTO & ALEJANDRA VALDEZ | WINNER STARTUP TRACK
Ecolana aims to be the ultimate guide for recycling in México City. The platform provides access to information and builds connections between two main types of communities: recycling heroes (citizens) and recycling centres (collectors). Next to these key players, they also encourage consumer brands to connect and add value to the city’s recycling chain.
COMMENTS FROM THE TEAM:
“We’re very excited about being sleected! When the final results were communicated, many of the people of our community – both recycling centres and recycling heroes – came forward and congratulated us. That really filled our hearts, because by winning, we hope that they feel part of something bigger than their own actions.”
comments FROM THE JURY:
“Even when you have recycling hubs installed, this doesn’t mean that the sector is well organised, and this project represents a clever solution to make the entire waste cycle more efficient. That’s a business improvement that is needed system-wide, and it is really inspiring to see how the initiators take the power in their hands to do that. From the energizing way the project was presented, it is obvious that these women are on a mission.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
All twenty winners of the Challenge will now enter a dedicated accelerator to help develop their projects further. The 4-month program includes a production budget and expert mentorship, and is designed to give each finalist the tools they need to make their innovation ready for market and financing.
Visit our platform for more information about the timeline, and to view all the submissions in our project gallery. In the coming weeks, we’ll highlight more winners for each city right here on the blog, as well as on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.