The Circular Plastic: Returning Waste to Use in Africa project explored the potential to convert waste plastic water bottles into 3D printer filament for use in the manufacture of innovative co-designed products for three African countries. The collaboration between Loughborough, Aston and DeMontfort universities in the UK with partners in Rwanda, Nigeria and Kenya was funded by the EPSRC Global Challenges Research Fund.
Organised by the Industrial Designers Society of America, the awards are judged for Design Innovation, Benefit to User, Benefit to Client, Benefit to Society, and Appropriate Aesthetics. Previous awards have been given to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Google Home and BMW i3 electric car.
Commenting on the award, Professor Evans said: “This is the first time that an EPSRC funded project has received a major award for industrial design and demonstrates its capacity to transform technical innovation and social need into innovative product opportunities”.
Professor Evans was delighted to receive the iconic trophy designed by Yves Béhar that can be transformed from an assembled magnetic cube to reveal the stylised letters for ‘IDEA’.
The Circular Plastic video can be seen on the University YouTube Channel here.