On 27 May, we announced the 85 nominees of the What Design Can Do No Waste Challenge. During the open call, creatives submitted ideas responding to at least one of three design briefs, each one tackling a different aspect of our take-make-waste economy. Participants applied to either the Global track or to specific city tracks aimed at finding solutions in Amsterdam, Delhi, México City, Nairobi, São Paulo & Rio and Tokyo.
Today, we take a closer look at the 10 outstanding projects nominated for the Amsterdam track. Developed in collaboration with our partners in the Netherlands, this track emphasized local perspectives on waste and was open to all participants designing from or for the region.
TAKE LESS
The following nominees responded to the first design brief, which focuses on the root causes that are fueling our waste problem. It suggests questions like: How can we consume more mindfully and inspire a shift in societal habits and values? Could design help us envision alternatives to buying and owning products?
→ read the full briefing here
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SUBMITTED BY: Stefanie Behrendt (Netherlands) | STRATEGY: SERVICES OR SYSTEMS
An educational bike tour through Amsterdam that makes going zero waste easy, fun and accessible to everyone. |
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SUBMITTED BY: Magda Cebrian (Spain) | STRATEGY: COMMUNICATIONS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES OR SYSTEMS
A platform that uses gamification to promote waste reduction and sustainable living among citizens and young people in Amsterdam. As part of the campaign, local challenges activities are organized throughout the year, including upcycling workshops or cleanup days. This project is also tagged as Brief 2: Make Better. |
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SUBMITTED BY: Aleksey Martynyuk (Netherlands) | STRATEGY: SERVICES OR SYSTEMS
A platform consisting of a web app, a mobile app and an analytical engine that offers users a convenient way to repair appliances, electronics, clothing and furniture. This project is also tagged as Brief 2: Make Better, and Brief 3: Handle Smarter. |
MAKE BETTER
The following nominees responded to the second design brief, which focuses on reducing waste through rethinking how things are made and what they are made of. It suggests questions like: How can we encourage the use of more innovative and sustainable materials? Could we redesign the life cycles of products, so that they are more restorative and/or regenerative?
→ read the full briefing here
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SUBMITTED BY: Gabi Potsa (Netherlands) | STRATEGY: Products
Starting 2021, EU members must ban single-use plastics, including all plastic cutlery and straws. Stampy is a reusable and compostable cocktail stamper made out of bamboo, designed for the post-plastic world. |
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SUBMITTED BY: Don Yaw Kwaning (Netherlands) | STRATEGY: ProductS
Medulla transforms soft rush (a type of weed found in wetlands and moors) into circular building materials that lower the use of energy through high-quality insulation. |
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SUBMITTED BY: Eva Aarts (Netherlands) | STRATEGY: Products
A start-up developing sustainable tiles made from river sediment waste. Unlike conventional tiles, rainwater can pass through them, which means they also help prevent flooding in cities. This project is also tagged as Brief 3: Handle Smarter. |
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SUBMITTED BY: Zsofia Kollar (Netherlands) | STRATEGY: PRODUCTS
Human Material Loop investigates the potential of human hair as a sustainable material of the future. It brings this overlooked natural fiber into a closed-loop recycling system that results in innovative textile applications. This project is also tagged as Brief 3: Handle Smarter. |
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SUBMITTED BY: Lola Buades Balle (Sweden) | STRATEGY: PRODUCTS
Green Box is a compostable amenity kit designed to help tackle plastic waste generated by the hospitality industry. This project is also tagged as Brief 3: Handle Smarter. |
HANDLE SMARTER
The following nominees responded to the third design brief, which focuses on the so-called ‘end of the line’, and asks for creative ways to redraw it so that all waste is disposed of in a way that’s safe and sustainable. It suggests questions like: How can we better track and manage the different forms of waste we produce? Could we empower people to view and use waste as a resource?
→ read the full briefing here
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SUBMITTED BY: René Notenbomer (Netherlands) | STRATEGY: PRODUCTS, SPACES
Save Walls turns plastic waste into building blocks for local housing. Each block is then filled with a bio-substrate mix and fitted with an irrigation system designed to grow vertical gardens. |
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SUBMITTED BY: Emy Bensdorp (Netherlands) | STRATEGY: PRODUCTS
PFAS are toxic chemicals that pose a growing problem for both human health and the environment. This initiative offers a clean-up solution, through a process that turns polluted soil and clay into clean ceramic bricks. This project is also tagged as Brief 2: Make Better. |
WHAT’S NEXT?
Nominated teams now have the time to improve their submissions before the final jury review in July. Visit our platform for more information about the competition, award package, and to view all the nominees in our project gallery.
