Food Waste management system
Basic information
Project Title
Food Waste management system
Full project title
Food Waste Management System for Sustainable Residential Communities
Category
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Project Description
This project addresses the problem of food waste. It includes 3 products: SqueezeBin which collects waste, NutriCycle which transforms it into compost and Vegtable which uses compost to grow vegetables. The community actively participates, growing plants and obtaining benefits. The result is a reduction in food waste, the production of high-quality compost and the promotion of local and ecological food production.
Geographical Scope
Cross-border/international
Project Region
CROSS-BORDER/INTERNATIONAL: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
The scenario is: create a circular economy within the community, in which every single resident collects and exchanges their own food waste, receiving in exchange organic vegetables grown with compost produced from their own processed waste.
The target concerns residential communities therefore the use of the 3 products is extended to anyone, citizens of all ages.
In conclusion, the project presents itself as an innovative and complete solution to
tackle the problem of household food waste. With its integrated, sustainable and
With a participatory approach, the system offers a concrete opportunity to reduce food waste, produce high-quality organic compost and promote local and environmentally friendly food production, contributing to the construction of a more sustainable future.
Furthermore, I would respond to 3 of the 17 European sustainable objectives:
No. 2 Defeating hunger: ensuring sustainable food production systems and applying resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production;
n.11 Sustainable cities and communities: Reducing the negative per capita environmental impact of cities, in particular regarding air quality and waste management;
n.12 Responsible consumption and production: Substantially reduce waste production through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
The target concerns residential communities therefore the use of the 3 products is extended to anyone, citizens of all ages.
In conclusion, the project presents itself as an innovative and complete solution to
tackle the problem of household food waste. With its integrated, sustainable and
With a participatory approach, the system offers a concrete opportunity to reduce food waste, produce high-quality organic compost and promote local and environmentally friendly food production, contributing to the construction of a more sustainable future.
Furthermore, I would respond to 3 of the 17 European sustainable objectives:
No. 2 Defeating hunger: ensuring sustainable food production systems and applying resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production;
n.11 Sustainable cities and communities: Reducing the negative per capita environmental impact of cities, in particular regarding air quality and waste management;
n.12 Responsible consumption and production: Substantially reduce waste production through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
Key objectives for sustainability
The key objectives are to create sustainable communities, reduce food waste and ensure that there is more interaction between residents within the community. My project responds to these 3 needs with 3 different products, the first which serves to contain and compact the waste by reducing its volume, these waste will then be transformed and delivered into the second product which will transform them into compost and this compost will then be used in the third product. In addition to contributing with their own waste, the community can carry out social activities such as cultivation within the urban gardens. Furthermore, when they deliver the waste they will receive in exchange a coupon to be used to purchase the vegetables grown in those urban gardens.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
All 3 products share an elegant, minimalist and sinuous design with a futuristic twist. The squeezebin can be configured in different colors of the user's choice, so it will go with the decor of any home. The NutriCycle which is the neighborhood transformer becomes part of the urban furniture, designed to satisfy other needs such as shelter from the rain or simply sitting down to chat with other residents. The VegTable with the 3 different configurations is designed to be used in different social contexts, ranging from schools to bars.
Key objectives for inclusion
In terms of inclusion all 3 products can be used by anyone. The project also presents an anthropometric analysis where different percentiles were used such as: 1st percentile female, 99th percentile male and a person in a wheelchair. From this analysis it is visible that enjoyment is guaranteed to anyone, breaking down social barriers.
How Citizens benefit
elf-sufficiency.
A fundamental part of the project is the direct interaction with the community. Individuals and
families who donate food waste can actively participate in the cultivation and care of plants,
and they receive a totem through which they can obtain benefits for purchasing products
grown in the same urban gardens.
A fundamental part of the project is the direct interaction with the community. Individuals and
families who donate food waste can actively participate in the cultivation and care of plants,
and they receive a totem through which they can obtain benefits for purchasing products
grown in the same urban gardens.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
Starting from the SqueezeBin, it differs from traditional collection baskets due to its minimalist design and rounded shapes which guarantee use even for children and the elderly, from the press cap which allows the waste to be compressed to the inside of a smaller container which will then transformed, and also features a carbon odor filter system. The NutriCycle differs from other composters in several aspects, the main one being the visual aspect, but also the functional one. The vegtable, on the other hand, is characterized by the different inclusive heights and the presence of 2 equipped channels useful for hosting work tools, it also has an elegant design suitable for any place.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
The disciplines are those linked to product design, the planning of sustainable and inclusive solutions, the transformation of waste, therefore the science of chemistry and physics and engineering as regards the internal NutriCycle system
Methodology used
the Brief was first made with an intensive study on the different problems followed by research on various areas, a scenario and context of use were then identified, followed by the development of 3 different user personas and then the needs were found for the project. an analysis of the state of the art was then carried out with similar products that are currently on the market and subsequently needs were found to which the product could respond. The second step concerns the concept where several design sketches, a storyboard and the concept of the service were made. The last step concerns concept development where the 3 products were developed through two-dimensional, three-dimensional representations, anthropometric analyses, detailed renderings and environmental renderings.
How stakeholders are engaged
The project initially aims to grow eco communities, with the aim of extending to a city level (multiple united communities) and then to a national level (many cities) and then internationally.
Global challenges
Around the world, the growing issue of food waste is causing an unprecedented
environmental crisis. Millions of tons of food are discarded each year, significantly
contributing to environmental pollution, global warming, and the unsustainable exploitation of
natural resources. This critical situation calls for innovative and practical solutions to reduce
our impact on the environment and promote a more sustainable lifestyle.
The project offers a promising solution to this problem by providing an effective strategy to
transform household food waste into nutrient-rich compost while actively involving the
community.
environmental crisis. Millions of tons of food are discarded each year, significantly
contributing to environmental pollution, global warming, and the unsustainable exploitation of
natural resources. This critical situation calls for innovative and practical solutions to reduce
our impact on the environment and promote a more sustainable lifestyle.
The project offers a promising solution to this problem by providing an effective strategy to
transform household food waste into nutrient-rich compost while actively involving the
community.
Learning transferred to other parties
The project can be used throughout Europe, the problems it deals with are common to all or almost all European nations.
Keywords
Community
Food Waste
Circular Economy
Compost
Growing Vegetables
