Plastics have been a global problem and such a hassle that everyone has a need of using them but no care for their proper disposal.
Is plastic the problem you should even be concerned about?
Wait, let me think.
Yes, it is and it is the trending global problem that every mind in the world should be aware of. Most people don’t even think about it as it is so easily available and used almost in every product that we use in today’s time but there are few organizations and people who are working hard to manage the plastic problem that is improperly disposed of. These innovative minds are working creatively to introduce solutions and technology that utilizes the waste plastics that often get disposed of in land waste or water resources. Among many such organizations, there is an organization called FabLab Nepal which has been working on the issue for a long time.
Fab Lab Nepal is a collaborative center for innovation, invention, education, and humanitarian outreach and a fully equipped digital fabrication workshop. Among many of the programs, we participated in MAKEathon program which was designed to find creative solutions to improperly disposed plastics.
Among the six teams that were created, our team was named Team Abhiyan (Meaning: Initiative). We had a wonderful team with Kavya (Aspiring Mechanical Engineer), Sailesh (Aspiring Mechanical Engineer), Amit (Aspiring Mechanical Engineer), Suman (Auditor), Adesh (Social Work Lecturer), and me. After a bit of hussle-tussle, team discussion, and brainstorming we finally came up with our product Plastile.
Innovation: Plastile
Problem Statement:
We are all aware of the fact that the Natural resources that we have are limited. Taking this fact into account, we need to know that the construction materials that we are using for infrastructural development are also limited. In very common sense, the construction materials that we are rapidly using for urbanization and development will finish. Morely, this process will hamper the natural ecosystem in an irreversible way.
Another problem that we want to address was the Water recharge blockage. Due to modern ways of infrastructural development, most of the land surfaces are either paved with cement or infrastructure. The current practice of outdoor flooring is disrupting the natural water recharge process. The problem with the urban areas is that they are ejecting more underground water than what is sent into the ground for recharge. This problem decrease in water content of soil and can gradually cause land (soil) to sink.
How does the innovation concept work?
Plastile will be made from recycled plastic like High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polyphenylene Ether (PPE) also, with unrecyclable ones like Multi Layered Plastics (MLPs).
Plastile will work in a Sandwich model which will consist of a base made up of MLP’s heat pressed. The top layer will consist PPE’s for an aggressive environments.
Plastile will have an interlocking system to connect two tiles that are being laid on the ground.
Plastile will also have holes for water recharge system. It will have linear gratings. Also, lightweight for convinient transportation.
Business Model:
Plastiles will be targeted for households (outdoor), community parks, schools and colleges.
The Business model will be B2G AND B2C.
The product will have Sustainability Impact.
We will be working under 3 SDG
-Sustainable cities and communities (11)
-Climate action (13)
-Life on land (15)
Product will have 30-plus years of product life and research says the tiles can be used as RDF after its lifecycle.
Necessary resources and Implementation plan:
The Machines and equipment needs to be there for Plastile manufacturing.
We will have Prototype testing ( Phase 1 and 2) to determine the design, functionality and need of the customers.
We will have product design modification (if needed).
then, launch and marketing.
