VOX POP
Seymour Powell has designed a prototype for what claims to be one of the world’s first fuel-cell motorbikes, Intelligent Energy’s Emissions Neutral Vehicle. What other products could benefit from an eco-friendly redesign?
‘In the UK alone we consume 63 million disposable nappies a day, they make up 4 per cent of our household waste and take up to 500 years to fully decompose. With so many practical, functional benefits to parents and babies it’s almost impossible to contemplate choosing the ecological alternatives. Manufacturers constantly innovate to gain a competitive edge, but they should also look closely at the long-term requirements of their products – or are they all just full of s***?’
David Bicknell, Creative director, Echo
‘Sweets, nappies, litter, 4x4s (except mine), fast food, school food (topical), plastic bags, taxis, fridges, North Pole, multiple layers of packaging, lorries, mobile phones, electrical products on standby, chewing gum…’
Peter Tennent, Partner, Factory Design
‘Depleted Uranium munitions cartridges. The UK has left around 165 tons of DU in Iraq from the 2003 conflict. It is 1.7 times heavier than lead, making a great cartridge, but unfortunately it’s highly toxic and has a half-life of 4.47 billion years. Since it seems to be de rigueur to resolve conflicts with military force, we need to find a new, non-toxic heavy metal. Gold has a similar atomic weight to lead and gets my vote. Also, the clean-up operation should be self-funded.’
Patrick Hunt, Creative director, Therefore
‘This new bike is almost silent, and as such I’m stimulated to choose an aeroplane. As a huge pollutant, especially with £5 riff-raff flights all over Europe, and then the BA 5.40am from Schiphol to Heathrow spoiling my early morning run through Highbury Fields. While I love planes, some things should be seen and not heard.’
Nick Crosbie, Creative director, Inflate
‘It would be equally beneficial to the environment to re-design products that educate the user or inform them of how much energy they’re using or wasting. The kettle, or boiling more water than needed, is a huge waste of water and energy. By giving a better indication of water contained and energy used/ saved it may encourage users to be more aware. These small changes often have the biggest impact.’
Sam Johnson, Sam Johnson Design
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