Press Release
Cupcrete Papercups to Concrete by Samira and Sepideh Kharazan Is Granted the Bronze A' Design Award in Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design
Samira and Sepideh Kharazan acknowledged for sustainable products, projects and green design by the international grand jury of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 24, 2024 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Cupcrete Papercups to Concrete by Samira and Sepideh Kharazan, designed for Heavenly, has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design category. The recognition forms part of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The Bronze A' Design Award Explained
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Regarding Cupcrete Papercups to Concrete
The design addresses challenges in paper cup recycling by introducing a novel method to create a new eco-green material called Cupcrete, developed by two sisters. It is formulated by blending cement with shredded paper cups, which are then mixed with water to form a fluid mixture. This mixture is poured into molds and left to dry, transforming into bricks, tiles, panels, furniture, and home accessories. The design offers lightweight construction and boasts acoustic and thermal insulation properties, along with reduced cost and superior environmental advantages.
About Samira and Sepideh Kharazan
Meet Samira and Sepideh, two sisters whose unique journeys have led them to excel in their respective fields. Samira, fueled by her passion for architecture, building, and product design, embarked on a creative journey over a decade ago. Her remarkable talent and dedication have seen her contribute significantly as an architect and showroom designer for prestigious fashion brands. In 2019, driven by her unwavering love for fashion, she took a bold step and launched her own luxury brand in Milan, the epitome of style and innovation.
Award Record
This recognition makes Samira and Sepideh Kharazan a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design Award
The A' Sustainable Product Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good sustainable products by leading designers and brands worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to sustainable product designers, green product manufacturers, eco-friendly product brands and industrial designers from all countries. Entries typically include sustainable projects, environment friendly designs, recycled, upcycled and bio-degradable products. Awarded sustainable product designs are published at https://desingers.org/design-category/sustainable-product
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://desingers.org/161364
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/161364
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!161364
- Laureate Profile: https://desingers.org/d/144083
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Cupcrete Papercups to Concrete
- Function
- Papercups to Concrete
- Category
- Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Sustainability
- Colors
- Light Gray, Gainsboro, Silver, Dim Gray and Dark Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Heavenly
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Samira and Sepideh Kharazan
- Country
- Italy
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2023 - 2024
- Design ID
- #161364
Credits
- Team
- Samira Kharazan and Sepideh Kharazan
- Image Credits
- Main; Samira Kharazan, 2024.; Samira Kharazan, 2024. Video : Samira Kharazan, 2024.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Cupcrete represents an environmentally friendly variant of concrete crafted from recycled paper cups and Portland cement. Through a novel process for recycling paper cup waste, we have generated a new material akin to cotton, to formulate a green concrete dubbed 'Cupcrete'. This methodology offers an ecological solution for mitigating the consumption of natural resources and reducing waste production. The versatility of Cupcrete allows for numerous potential variations.
- Inspiration
- This project, sparked by a TV program, addresses the environmental impact of paper cups. Despite being labeled recyclable, less than 1% of paper coffee cups are actually recycled due to the polyethylene coating inside. This is because of the complexities of separating plastic from paper during recycling, coupled with the high costs involved. Over 269 billion cups (weighing as much as one million elephants) end up in landfills yearly, taking over 20 years to decompose and releasing harmful pollutants.
- Research
- This abstract explores the transformation of paper cups into reusable options to address environmental issues. Cupcrete is formulated by combining cement, shredded paper cups, and sand (if required), which are then mixed with water to create a fluid mixture. This mixture is subsequently poured into blocks or panels and allowed to dry. With parental support, especially from our mother, a solution was found through thorough examination. Motivated by sustainability, the study delves into technical details such as cup materials and recycling challenges. It emphasizes innovative approaches like upcycling to reduce paper cup waste and promote sustainability.
- Challenge
- The toughest aspect of the research was turning cups into a cotton-like material, mainly done at home. Another major challenge is properly collecting and sorting waste at the city level, requiring coordination with bureaucracy and adherence to local regulations. Collaborating with municipal authorities or relevant organizations is essential for program implementation. To address these challenges, we've developed smart bins for municipal presentation. This initiative aims to enhance city recycling and waste management efforts.
- Realization and Technology
- After the upcycling process of paper cups, which are transformed into a cotton-like material, this substance can then be blended with other recycled or sustainable materials such as cement, sand, or recycled textile fibers to enhance its strength and durability. Essentially, the constituents, when mixed in different proportions, produce concrete with varying properties, making it a versatile material for buildings, furniture, and accessories.
- Operation and Interaction
- Cupcrete is like the magic of turning paper cup waste into concrete! Just mix it up with cement and water, pour it into molds, and watch it transform. It's incredibly lightweight yet strong, keeping buildings quiet and cool. From walls to floors, even furniture, Cupcrete does it all! What's truly awesome is its eco-friendly nature, saving precious resources with every use. It outshines regular concrete with its lighter weight, lower cost, and superior environmental benefits. It's not just concrete; it's a revolution in building with heart and conscience.
- Project Duration and Location
- This project commenced in September 2022 in Milan and concluded in June 2023, also in Milan.
- Specifications
- Cupcrete is formulated by combining cement, shredded paper cups, and sand (if required), which are then mixed with water to create a fluid mixture. This mixture is subsequently poured into blocks or panels and allowed to dry. Cupcrete offers lightweight construction and demonstrates outstanding acoustic and thermal insulation properties. It is distinguished by its cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and notable characteristics such as high ductility, energy absorption capacity, and low density.
- Keywords
- global warming, papercups waste, sustanable, upcycle, recycle, concrete, new material, innovation, construction, green
