In 2018, Belgian B Corp ecoBirdy's founders, Vanessa Yuan and Joris Vanbriel, made their debut at the Parisian design fair Maison & Objet, garnering significant attention. Their designs, crafted from recycled old plastic toys, resembled natural marble with soft, vibrant colors, attracting many onlookers. Behind the design lies in-depth research into plastics, plastic toys, and their recyclability. Accompanied by a children's picture book, the collection aims to convey the concepts of circular design and a sustainable future to children, inspiring them to contribute to a more sustainable future.

Before founding ecoBirdy, Vanessa Yuan and Joris Vanbriel worked in design and fashion in Milan, Italy. However, they reflected on the abundance of excellent designs already existing and questioned why new things needed to be produced. They recognized that excessive consumerism is harmful to the planet. Therefore, their answer was to establish ecoBirdy, aiming to respond to the challenges faced by society today with the power of sustainable business.

ecoBirdy has created a circular system that starts from the recycling of old plastic toys to the design and production of furniture. Their four-piece furniture collection is entirely made from recycled plastic and is fully recyclable with ease.

They offer service solutions for companies or brands seeking to address the plastic issue and create new products. For instance, Mustela, a leading baby care brand, collaborates with ecoBirdy by providing recycling bins for disposable contact lens packaging in stores, producing limited edition children's furniture and tables. They also partner with the Belgian children's toy brand Quut.

Conscious choices and deliberate designs by the designers make discarded materials look like beautiful creations and practical furniture pieces. In response, Yuan and Vanbriel expressed, "We aim to change people's perception of products made from recycled materials."

They also hope to further promote sustainability and circular design through aesthetic design. They believe that it's necessary to synchronize the supply chain and recycling chain, with brands taking responsibility for recycling their products and cooperating with recyclers to streamline the process. This approach increases the likelihood of winning over consumers.

They sincerely expressed, "In the past, most industries under the linear economy focused on how to produce faster and cheaper, without considering the impact on nature and the future of the products. From the perspective of the overall human interest, not considering the lifecycle of products is an irresponsible approach to the environment. From a business standpoint, all companies should aim for sustainability. Therefore, by utilizing better circular design products and services, you can actually earn more and sustain longer!"

When the Dutch B Corporation Greentom was founded in 2013, it named its baby strollers made from certified recycled PET (rPET) as "Green Tomorrow," with the aspiration that its designs would enable humanity to cease the extraction of petroleum and instead utilize existing plastic waste as raw materials to create beautiful products.

In 2016, Greentom's design won the Red Dot Award for Design Concept, with the jury unanimously recognizing the environmentally inspired Greentom stroller. They appreciated the meticulously crafted frame, seat, and high-quality modular design made from recycled plastic, cleverly combined to complement each other. The built-in features, easy and intuitive folding mechanism, lightweight yet sturdy construction, provide maximum functionality and flexibility for every stage of a child's growth.

The Greentom stroller is made up of over 85% recycled plastic, with its frame consisting of just 34 unique components that can be assembled within five minutes. It is certified to meet applicable safety requirements and quality standards. Its modular design allows for quick maintenance, refurbishment, and reuse through renting cycles. When the product's lifecycle ends, its components can be disassembled and recycled.

Traditional baby strollers typically consist of over 400 components, making them structurally complex. In attempts to reduce discomfort for babies, many strollers incorporate shock absorbers, resulting in increased weight and a less sleek appearance.

Greentom's design features a monocoque frame, unlike traditional baby strollers that consist of many aluminum alloy parts. The Greentom stroller weighs only 7 kilograms. It is available in both reversible and carrycot models, with a universal frame that allows for the purchase of additional accessories. This design not only reduces manufacturing carbon emissions but also saves space.

※ This article is authorized for reprint from "B Corporation," with the original title "Turning Plastic Waste and Old Toys into Children's Furniture and Strollers, Winning Over Consumers!" It is not covered by CC Creative Commons licensing terms.

Source:
Environmental Information Center