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 Delhi track. Developed in collaboration with our partners in India, 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?
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ReZeroSUBMITTED BY: Aditi Sisodiya (India) | STRATEGY: Services or systemsIn an effort to revive India’s traditional repair culture, ReZero bridges the gap between consumers, repair shops, cobblers, tailors and recyclers, bringing them onto the same convenient platform. This project is also tagged as Brief 2: Make Better. |
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Refillable – Zero Waste RefillSUBMITTED BY: Purav Desai (India) | STRATEGY: PRODUCTS, Services or systemsA traveling refill station that delivers home care liquid products at the customer’s doorstep, eliminating the need for plastic packaging. This project is also tagged as Brief 2: Make Better and Brief 3: Handle Smarter. |
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Bare Necessities Zero WasteSUBMITTED BY: Mehul Manjeshwar (India) | STRATEGY: PRODUCTS, SERVICES OR SYSTEMSBy producing zero-waste products, hosting educational workshops and conducting sustainability consulting services, Bare Necessities seeks to change the narrative on waste in India and empower local communities to think consciously about their impact on the environment. 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?
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Golden FeathersSUBMITTED BY: Rajan Bhatnagar (India) | STRATEGY: ProductsA social enterprise creating low-impact, high-quality feather wool out of waste from the poultry industry. This project also reduces poverty by providing sustainable livelihoods for local craftsmen and tribal women in Rajasthan, India. |
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Carbon-neutral packagingSUBMITTED BY: Neha Jain (India) | STRATEGY: ProductSFood-safe and industry-ready packaging made from locally cultivated seaweed that diverts no resources and leaves nothing behind. This project is also tagged as Brief 1: Take Less. |
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Earthlings
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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?
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Carbon TileSUBMITTED BY: Tejas Sidnal (India) | STRATEGY: PRODUCTSA startup upcycling carbon recovered from tyre pyrolysis waste into beautiful materials and architectural products. This project is also tagged as Brief 2: Make Better. |
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Silica Plastic BlockSUBMITTED BY: Shridhar Rao (India) | STRATEGY: Products, SpacesA sustainable building brick that is made from recycling foundry dust / sand waste (80%) and mixed plastic waste (20%). |
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Decentralized SW ManagementSUBMITTED BY: Dr. Amarjyoti Kashyap (India) | STRATEGY: PRODUCTS, SERVICES OR SYSTEMSDesigning various technologies for decentralized solid waste management, including composting and plastic sorting initiatives that promote waste reduction and awareness at the household level. This project is also tagged as Brief 1: Take Less, and Brief 2: Make Better. |
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In-Packed NatureSUBMITTED BY: Vrundali Raurale (India) | STRATEGY: ProductsAn initiative turning agro-industrial waste like shells from nuts and grains into biodegradable takeaway food containers. This project is also tagged as Brief 1: Take Less, and 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.