Strøm
2021
A collection of carbon water filters made completely without fossil fuels, using food waste from our own kitchens. The four-piece home-compostable range, called Strøm, includes a sustainable substitute for Brita filter cartridges, purifying sticks that can be added into cups or bottles and a self-cleaning pitcher and carafe.
Although most Americans have access to safe drinking water, harmful contaminants remain in tap water in every state. Many households use polypropylene Brita cartridges to purify water, which have a recommended lifespan of 2-6 months.
Because the material’s longevity does not align with the product’s lifespan, the plastic remains on our planet, resulting in microplastics that pollute water systems.
Our project reconsiders the material that interacts with water and how form (via surface contact and embedded filtration systems) can improve water quality. The central goal is to reduce plastic waste associated with water purification while exploring net-positive product life cycles.
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Shake
Our series of shakers are intended to fit into a variety of existing vessels to use in the home and on-the-go. The intent with the form is to maximize surface area and to design for easy access. Drop your shaker in a jar, bottle, or cup, & give it a shake! This is not supposed to be membrane filtration, rather it takes charcoal sticks a step further by creating a longer-lasting, antimicrobial & playful shaker.
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Sub
The focus of “Sub” is to create a literal substitute for a Brita filter. We sought to not only replace plastic with a functional material, but also to remove plastic from the waste stream. We took care to create a material with the same lifespan as the product (roughly 3-6 months). We also created thermoplastic pellets that replace the resin beads used by Brita.
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Strain
“Strain” uses membrane filtration & funnel form of its own to filter water. This carafe-adjacent vessel is intended to be used to strain water using our pellets. We envision it for at-home, everyday use.