Waste bin
Challenges in Sustainable Product Design
Currently, developing sustainable products is essential and fits perfectly into the market.
However, developing sustainable products that both make sense in the market and are cost-effective to use is a highly complex challenge.
Most innovative sustainable products are subsidized, either in their creation or in their use. This is precisely because it is very challenging to develop sustainable products that are also genuine business opportunities.
Problem Definition to Be Solved
Hospitals must comply with certain regulations regarding the handling of waste with risks of biological contamination. Needles, materials used for wound care, and single-use surgical supplies are some examples of waste that could spread diseases in the event of accidents with these items, which are also almost always sharp.
These waste materials, after use, must be sterilized before being treated as regular waste. Additionally, their collection is carried out in special containers that prevent the release of these materials in case the container falls and restrict the complete opening of the lid.
You are probably familiar with the yellow sanitary bins in hospitals and clinics.
The sterilization of waste is carried out in a room equipped with autoclaves and the necessary tools to open the sanitary bins used for waste. The lids are broken to extract the contents, which are then processed through disinfection machines.
This procedure of breaking the containers and extracting their contents is time-intensive and requires the waste containers to be single-use.
Invention Definition
At Let’s Prototype, we work on invent development from various starting points. For example, in this case, the client had clearly identified the problem but tasked us with conducting research to find a solution and develop the functional prototype.
The mechanics team, after exploring various alternatives, conducting tests, and performing research, developed a solution consisting of a cylindrical-shaped container. This container includes an internal chimney-like structure, which has been proven sufficient to eliminate bacteria within its contents. The device itself is made of atechnical plastic that ensures durability under the conditions of the sterilization system.
The mechanical design of the medical-use container also features a unique opening system. It is as secure as required by regulations but does not require breaking the plastic for access. Instead, it uses a special tool that allows the contents to be extracted and the container to be returned to its collection point.
Is the Sustainable Product Profitable?
If we compare the manufacturing cost of traditional single-use containers with the costs associated with the manufacturing of a waste container designed and prototyped in our laboratory, it is true that the latter are significantly more expensive—more than double the price.
However, the real comparison should not be limited to the manufacturing costs of both products. To assess the future profitability of the invention, it is essential to consider that the second sanitary bin can withstand 100 usage cycles, reduces management costs in the laboratory, avoids the European tax burden for manufacturing single-use plastic products, and, if that were not enough, minimizes the environmental impact of this type of container.
Therefore, yes. The sustainable product designed and later manufactured in our invention factory has a very high potential to become a great business.
