loop

Challenge

717 000 tonnes of food waste is produced by Swedish households each year. Studies show that two-thirds of our food waste goes in the garbage bin instead of the compost-bin, eventually ending up in landfills. If we could digest the organic waste the impact on our environment could be reduced by up to 75 percent. During my bachelor thesis project, I investigated how food waste management can be improved in apartment households.

Approach

Many people do not recycle their food waste today. My research showed that this is mostly because of comfortable reasons, such as lack of time and space, and that it feels unpleasant and boring. Recycling methods in apartment households vary depending on what city or country you live in, and the rules the property owner has. What if we could find a solution that will empower food waste recycling by turning it into a seamless and encouraging routine?

loop

The aim of Loop is to empower food waste recycling by turning it into a seamless and encouraging routine. Loop consists of a kitchen sink that focusing on efficiency and comfortability when food waste occurs, and a collector underneath that will collect and maintain the nutrients in the food waste. The end goal is to increase recycling by taking advantage of the energy and nutrients in the food waste, to create a closed-loop. 

Optimized Workflow

The food waste can be easily collected during and after cooking in the kitchen sink food waste tub. Either with the implemented strainer in the large sink tub, scrape down from the sliding cutting board, or directly rinse off by the kitchen tap. 

Integrated touch and light feedback

Information about the container status and when the dry food waste needs to be emptied and recycled will be shown by an integrated touch and light surface. 

Separating “wet” and “dry”

After the food waste has been collected, it will first be decomposed and then separated by centrifugation. "Wet" such as liquids will be drained out in the sewer system and "Dry" food waste will be collected in a container. In the container, a vacuum environment will occur to prevent it from bad smell and mold but also maintain the nutrients in the food waste container. 

Recycle in an existing recycling method

The container can then be easy carried out and the food waste recycled by the existing recycling method in the user’s city or country. For example, composting or in a central digestion facility.

Today’s food waste problem

Studies show that two-thirds of our food waste goes in the garbage bin instead of the compost-bin, eventually ending up in landfills. Food and drink throw away at restaurants, schools, and workplaces, but statistics show that it is the households that throw away the most. First of all, we should of course minimize the food waste per person. But what do we do with the unavoidable food waste, the food that is difficult to reduce?

Different recycling methods

During my research I found out that there is a lot of different methods today on how to recycle food waste. An interesting thing i realised is that as an apartment owner in Sweden you are very limited to which method of recycling you can choose. It all depends on what rules your municipality has set up and which method your property owner has chosen. 

Interviews & Observations

During my research, I interviewed and observed a couple of people to get more insights into their food waste routines. I also made an online survey where I could see that there is a lot of people that don't recycle their food waste at all today. I also found out that the main reason why people choose to not recycle today is mostly because of comfortability reasons, but also because of lack of space and also since it takes extra time. 

Food waste recycling workshop

Brainstorming & Concept evaluation

Concept Idea

From the ideation phase I realised that the most convenient way to collect the food waste is in the kitchen sink. But instead of sending it all out in the sewage as a garbage disposal does, I wanted to collect the food waste separately in an hygienic way. So the user then can recycle it in any recycling method. 

Vision & Inspiration

The overall mood I wanted my solution to having is "Scandinavian Premium". The feeling of luxury, exclusiveness, and something that you are proud of. This, in a harmonic way since the kitchen experience is often very stressful. To accomplish this, the shape of the product will have the feeling of floating and flying with simple, flat, and clean surfaces. I also wanted to link back to the planet in circular details and materials linked to nature.  

Form Development

The first sketch phase was to define the sink arrangement and the right shape based on my inspiration board. I also defined how the container should be divided into different parts with split lines and functions. I then developed the form and shape in more detail and continued doing more detailed sketches about the interaction, buttons, and functions.

Colour Analysis

I wanted the overall colors on the product to be linked to Scandinavian nature. I divided the colors into "Product" and "Interface". The product colors are darker and dustier to get a luxury-premium feeling. Colors on indication-lights and buttons are more energizing but collaborate with the other colors in harmony. I wanted to have one main, natural color that will be combined with one accent color that will come in two different color choices.   

Building the 1:1 model

When the design was set I could start the model making, I wanted to challenge myself and build a 1:1 model. I milled out most parts of the container in a CNC-milling machine. I also milled out a template that I vacuum-formed plastic around to create the sink parts. I also laser cut the top part of the sink and some details. After that I assembled all the parts together, it required a lot of sanding and patty to get all the surfaces smooth before painting them in different colors. The project was presented at the annual event and exhibition "UID Talks" in May 2018. There I showed my physical model together with a poster. 

Milling the inner part of the sink

Vacuum forming the sink parts

Milling the container

Assembly the different parts, sanding and painting