Bachelor’s project

We all learned it in school; reduce, reuse and recycle. Containers and packaging make up a major portion of municipal solid waste, amounting to 82.2 million tons of generation in 2018. I´ve been in contact HABO to source the logistic waste to create a product out of upcycled materials.

For my project, I've collaborated with HABO, located in the northern harbor of Malmö, Scandinavia's largest distributor of fittings and homeware. Through them, I've acquired three materials from their waste: steel strips, Pet/PP plastic strips, and wooden cartridges and pallets. These materials are single-use products typically used for one-way trips from Asia to Malmö in containers.

Materials

In order to decide on what product to design, I needed to explore the possibilities and limitations of the materials. I began by identifying what the materials are made out of, to learn what their basic attributes are.

What? PP (Polypropylene) & PET (Polyethylene)
Used for? To increase the stability of packages on pallets
Ends up where? Malmö inceneration plant
Attributes :
Great tensile strength
Translucent
High level of dimensional stability
High-impact resistance
What? Light steel strips
Used for? To increase the stability of pallets
Ends up where? CARLF Recycling
Attributes:
Not weldable due to high carbon ratio
High strength to weight ratio
Reflective Magnetic
Thermal conductivity
What? Birch
Used for? Pallets
Ends up where? Malmö inceneration plant

Attributes
Strength in tensions and compression Millable
Bendable

Limitations
Hard to determine the quality
Internal fractures
Exposed to water

Material workshop

To determine the optimal product design, I conducted an in-depth exploration of the materials capabilities and constraints. This involved organizing a one-day workshop dedicated to assessing the potential and limitations of the materials.

Duration
24 hours

Materials
Steel bands & polymers

IDEATION

Design stratedgy

INSPIRATION
Recognizing trends as a major obstacle in designing for longevity, I pondered which products stand the test of time. Mid-century Scandinavian furniture design emerged as a timeless example. While personal attachment may influence my perspective, I believe these pieces possess intrinsic aesthetic qualities that transcend fleeting trends.
Refinements

MECHANICAL STRUCTURE
Drawing inspiration from the timeless aesthetics of mid-century design, our conceptual approach integrates mechanical integrity seamlessly. Our focus lies not only on capturing the essence of mid-century design but also on engineering structures capable of withstanding significant loads and forces,
Physical prototyping

CARDBOARD // MINIATURE
Considering the large size of the sideboard, I opted to create a 1:10 scale miniature prototype.

Components //
Construction //
Assembly

Facing material constraints, the prototype required 536 individual pieces. Each component was meticulously bent, surface treated, glued and assembled together. The assembly required 242 bolts, nuts, and washers to assemble. In the midst of challenging circumstances, sanity was questioned, and time was of the essence.

Capturing the essence of the mid-century Scandinavian design

p.536

The sideboard is designed with waste products from the logistic sector. It consists of 536 different parts made out of steel strips, plastic bands, and wood. It's been created with influences from the mid-century Scandinavian design epoch. By using upcycled materials it hinders 28.6KG of carbondioxide emissons.