Sanyo wins top Japanese award

Japan’s design community has pushed the environment to the top of the agenda by awarding the Grand Prize for the national Good Design Award 2007 to Sanyo Electric for its new range of rechargeable products.

Sanyo’s Eneloop Universe Products range is based on the company’s Think Gaia vision, which encourages people to reuse, rather than dispose of, batteries.

It includes a battery charger – designed to encourage people not to the throw out old batteries by being aesthetically pleasing and easy to use – and a rechargeable hand warmer.

Since its inception in 1957, more than 30 000 products have been given a Good Design Award by trade body the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organisation. The award is the only comprehensive design evaluation and commendation in Japan that accepts concepts from international companies. The Grand Prize was awarded to Sanyo ahead of 2945 other designs that have been awarded the marque this year.