DESIGN NAME: Pebble Bagasse Collection
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Plate and Bowl
INSPIRATION: Pebble Bagasse collection is inspired by the organic shape of the humble pebble. The material, bagasse, was very important to me in my design and inspiration process. Bagasse, which is the by-product of sugarcane, is not only biodegradable but is also one of the most readily available non-tree fibers. The red thread in this project was to make a disposable range of consumer products using a material that is natural, organic and renewable.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Inspired by the organic shapes of pebbles, these elegant plates and bowls are made from bagasse. Bagasse is a robust natural
by-product of sugar production, which is renewable and compostable. Bagasse is a wonderful alternative to wood pulp. It requires fewer chemicals for processing and uses less energy to process. Once composted, it returns to soil in just 8 weeks. What better raw material to use for a set of disposable plate and bowl.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: This is a use and throw eating and dining product made of one of the best bio-degradable material available to man, called Bagasse. It serves the same purpose as plastic use and throw plates and bowls, except better, as it does not harm the environment and is made from renewable resources.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: Project Started at Duni AB, Malmö, Sweden in February 2014 and we had the first prototypes by June 2014. The project finished in July 2014. The products were photo-shot to be a part of main catalogue year-round assortment at Consumer Duni 2015. The Pebble Bagasse Collection is now available in stores/supermarkets around europe starting January 2015.
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The Pebble Collection is made from an eco-friendly material called Bagasse. Bagasse is a by-product of sugar cane fiber which is left-after the juice has been extracted from the sugar cane. Bagasse plates and bowls are pressed in a high heat and pressure process. Since sugarcane is renewable plant, its by-product – Bagasse, is a great raw material to make products which are use and throw. Bagasse products are 100% biodegradable and compostable and return to the soil in just 8 weeks. When bagasse products degrade, they provide natural ingredients back to environment since they are made from natural, organic and renewable materials. Bagasse products are perfect alternatives to petroleum based Styrofoam and plastic products which take thousands of years to degrade.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Pebble Plate is approx 27 cms in diameter (longest part measured) and the Pebble Bowl is approx 15 cms in diameter (longest part measured)
TAGS: bagasse, pebble, bio-degradable, compostable, sugarcane, one-time use, single use, disposable
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: The main challenge of this project was to make products from bagasse which could not only compete with plastic products but be better in every way - in form, shape and function. Bagasse as a material solves this problem as its 100% biodegradable and compostable. When bagasse products degrade, they provide natural ingredients back to environment since they are made from natural, organic and renewable materials. The material research for this project lead to usage of Bagasse with lots of support from Ms. Therese Nilsson and Ms.Sylvia RongXu at the Consumer Department at Duni AB. Next step, I was back to the drawing board where my main inspiration was the shape of the organic pebble and the rest is history.
CHALLENGE: The hardest part of this challenge was to make the natural bagasse look better on the shelf for consumers than plastic. Plastic can be colored and printed to make it look attractive on the shelf, but we did not want to color bagasse so that we do not add any harmful dyes to this wonderful compostable material. I think I have been able to able to achieve that value with its organic form and shape.
ADDED DATE: 2014-09-30 11:01:41
TEAM MEMBERS (2) : The Pebble Collection has been made for the Consumer Department of Duni AB. This project has been visualized and designed by me, Simi Gauba, from sketch to concept to the final designs. and My main support in this project has been Therese Nilsson, the Category manager for this product at Duni AB, Sylvia RongXu, Sourcing manager at Duni AB, who got the prototypes made in China and Anna Karin Fäldt, the design and marketing manager at Duni.
IMAGE CREDITS: Consumer Department and Inhouse Advertising agency at DUNI AB
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