Discussed in C2CAD,“According to the 2005 World Summit Outcome
Document (United Nations, 2005), the interdependent and mutually reinforcing
pillars of sustainable development are economic development, social
development, and environmental protection.” In order for a difference to be
made concerning the reuse, or “upcycling”, of items we use everyday, our
society has got to get on board towards creating a sustainable future. What we
all must grasp is that the small things do count.
Society must take responsibility, because we are the ones
creating waste issues and therefore should do what is in our power to fix them.
With the increase and population and the rate at which resources are being
consumed/used and thrown away, we have got to change our ways, as discussed in
Cradle to Cradle. With a paradigm shift and a newfound concern for the future,
everyone’s contributions would change the future of generations to come.
According to Sustainability, “A holistic, cradle-to-grave approach is emerging,
which considers the impact of a textile’s entire life cycle.” A simple change
in the interests and concerns of designers could ultimately lead to the
creation of products that serve several purposes and ultimately have several
life-cycles in order to reduce waste.
My concept is the reuse of glass bottles. Living in a college
town, the amount of glass bottles being thrown away and wasted adds up to be no
small quantity. What people don’t realize is that these simple every-day
bottles have potential for other uses. The concept began as a gift idea, but
has changed in my opinion since learning about sustainability. Like most girls,
I like things that are pretty…and sparkly. Insert a birthday celebration and
you have got my “upcycled” product:
A little glitter can go a long way, as well as some
sequence. Still after the beverage
is long gone, there is not only a reused product, but also a reminder of what
the festivities held. Like a picture, certain items summon memories and find a
place on a desk or table to remind you every time you pass it of, oh say, your
22nd birthday.
Hi Jenny-
ReplyDeleteGreat introduction, it's a strong paragraph as well as very informative. I like your design concept and I agree with you it would be very easy to find a multitude of spare bottles in Stillwater, OK. I think your design concept could easily be integrated as a type of visual element that could be very useful to the apparel and textile industry. The reused bottles could be used in retail stores to display jewelry, like bracelets. Have you considered selling the decorated bottles, maybe as vases or pencil holders, in retail stores, like Pier 1 or Pottery Barn?
Bree, thank you for your ideas on where these could be sold-I hadn't really even thought about it on a selling to stores basis, I was just considering people to kind of do it on a "at home/craft" basis. I do like the idea of this item being carried in a home store, even possibly branching out to clothing/home stores, like Franchesca's or Anthropologie!
ReplyDeleteHey Jenny,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog. I think your idea is an excellent concept for a business and is very creative! If you were to start a business like this, how exactly would you go about collecting large quantities of used bottles?
That is a really good idea! Seems like glass bottles used as containers, vases or displays are popular. Great job on your blog!
ReplyDeleteJenny,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea and very cute! You could do a number of different things with this product and design it in numerous ways. This seems like a great product to use for your project.