Sea weed pillow
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
Dry sea weed leaves of our protected Posidonia Oceanica abundantly cover our beaches each autumn so we decided to remove it sustainably. Therefore we 1st designed sea weed pillow, received quality label "Croatian island product", nice feedback from users and overwhelming national media coverage. We gave pillows to asthma and sinus patients and they confirmed it helps them whenever they use it. Then we noticed it goes to dust after frequent usage so we found a way to use that dust.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
A pleasant scent of the Adriatic beach is given by the sea weed piled at shores of our islands so we got the idea to use it to stuff the pillows and make a new product. Our first sea weed pillow is a 40cm long roller with 15cm in diameter, used as a neck support. After receiving quality label "Croatian island product" and an overwhelming coverage on national TV https://radio.hrt.hr/clanak/na-lazini-suvoj-lezat/118613/ and national home and design magazine https://www.jutarnji.hr/domidizajn/inspiracije/novi-hrvatski-hit-proizvod-sea-weed-pillow-3727803 we were encouraged to design commercial sea weed pillow as a 40 x 40 cm x 8 cm seating pillow to be used in yoga studios and sea food restaurants far away from sea. Ten pillows can scent 50 m2 room for months. For that we also received quality label "Croatian island product". Then we got the idea to give it to asthma and sinus patients. Their positive feedback and gratitude overwhelmed us but we noticed that the sea weed goes to dust after frequent use. Therefore we sent samples of dust and sea weed to chemical lab to find out what it consists of and how it can be used. Now we know it's a perfect fertilizer for figs, olives and tomatoes so we are looking to spread that info to fig, olives and tomatoes production companies to transfer sea weed from our beaches to the places where it is needed and useful. Further reflection led us to the next project of Genijalna pergola, where we use all natural resources ,sea weed, rain water and sun to provide shelter, food and power. Even greater media coverage:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqs_uvSp
https://radio.hrt.hr/radio-zadar/clanak/sunce-more-lazina-i-genijalna-pergola/203881/ ;
https://magazin.hrt.hr/sretni-i-zdravi/genijalna-pergola-na-olibu-878405;
https://www.jutarnji.hr/domidizajn/eksterijeri/pergola-za-cistu-peticu-s-otoka-oliba-9177713;
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=386373885678273
Key objectives for sustainability
The idea of Sustainability was the 1st driving force that kick started this product. We needed to figure out how to help nature to close the circle with sea weed piled on our beaches each autumn. Therefore we 1st designed sea weed pillows, then figured out to use it as a fertilizer for figs, olives and tomatoes.
To additionally enforce the idea of sustainability we offered pillow refill at extremely affordable rate.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Dark blue and white colors of pillows together with mild Adriatic beach scent provides Mediterranean atmosphere at home, boat, office, yoga studio and sea food restaurant. Special quality of experience is reserved for asthma and sinus patients because of iodine naturally contained in dry sea weed leaves which helps them breath and ease some sorts of sinus pain.
Key objectives for inclusion
All our islands are facing the same issue with sea weed piled on beaches and island population is considered to be with fewer opportunities because of poor traffic connection to mainland. There fore we imagine that popularization of sea weed pillows will bring job opportunities in production, marketing and/or selling for all present and future islanders.
Main goal of our NGO is to preserve life at island of Olib and to repopulate it with young smart people which we will attract through Erasmus+ program projects and our other inventions, products and experiences, therefore we inventing job opportunities for them.
Results in relation to category
This project, it's production process, it's development and research formed closed circle of sustainability , beauty and inclusiveness. It uses abundant natural resource, turn it to attractive item at boat, home, yoga studio or sea food restaurant before turning it to a fertilizer and it's production open job opportunities for all islanders.
The most impressing impact is discovery of the fact that our pillow enables asthma and sinus patients relief in breathing during the night.
How Citizens benefit
his project and the following projects inspired by it, brought our small local community of a barely populated distant island a national both electronic and printed media coverage several times. Wider recognition of the product will bring job opportunities to all present and future islanders. The community was not involved until the product was publicly presented. Right after that, their involvement gave us the feedback that we could only dream of-our pillows provide easy breathing and peace during the night for certain categories of people. Their feedback also led us to send some samples to the chemical lab and find out that it is a perfect fertilizer for the figs, olives and tomatoes and that opened the doors for our future projects.
Innovative character
Never before was a pillow used to clean beaches, support breathing during asthma attack and relieve pain in sinus patients, fertilize tomatoes at balcony and provide a mild scent of Adriatic beach in your room while, at the same time, obtaining high aesthetic standards.
