It’s heavy.
Why design a water bottle?
Because we have a problem and design can help.
Single use plastic water bottles are convenient and recyclable, but the EPA and the American Chemistry Council report that less than 30% of them actually get recycled in the US. Every year, over 6,000,000,000 pounds of single use water bottles end up in landfills or become litter. That number is so big that I can’t relate to it so I did some math with the help of my teenage son: The Golden Gate Bridge is a heavy thing, tipping the scales at 1,700,000,000 pounds. In the US we are adding the equivalent of nearly four (4) Golden Gate Bridges to landfills each year . . . in the form of single use plastic water bottles. Or if you prefer, 41 Washington Monuments. Over 300 Eiffel towers. You get it.
Single use plastic water bottles are not being recycled to make more bottles either. They can only be downcycled to produce less structural products like fleece. That’s better than nothing, but not good either.
So why glass?
Unlike water bottles made from stainless steel or plastic, high quality borosilicate glass bottles impart no flavor to water. They can last a lifetime, if cared for properly, and you can add boiling water directly to the bottle to make tea. Not so with plastic. And there is no need for downcycling; when it’s time to recycle, your bottle can be used to make more bottles.
The downside to glass is the risk of breakage if dropped, which brings us to…
It’s good.
Cork.
Cork is The Poster Child for sustainability. A cork oak can be harvested by stripping its bark once every ten years or so without harming the tree. Cork is a truly renewable resource that unlike other timber products does not encourage deforestation or monoculture timber farming. Cork is the good stuff, and it is also recyclable. This bottle concept uses recycled pelletized wine corks as the raw material for the glass bottle’s protective outer shell.
Play me!
Oh yes, the Jute.
Did you know that in some markets jute is woven so finely that it is sold as imitation silk? It’s not just for burlap, and it is stronger than cotton. So, why not use it for a durable natural hinge for this protective cork case? Plus, it’s just fun to say jute. Say it with me! Jute.
Taking a cue from the da Vinci quote, here’s a sketch of the bottle concept done in his style.
Want this design?
I created this product concept as an example of how I use design thinking to address a persistent problem. I have not patented this concept, so if you are in a position to manufacture and market this bottle (and whittle away at the mountains of plastic that we’re adding to our landfills), please use this design with my compliments. I’ll even send you the CAD files. Better yet, why not hire me so we can work together?