Student wins Ecodesign Award with urban composter
A graduate of Antwerp University’s product development programme was praised for the materials and manufacturing of his urban compost device
Composting in the city
“The Urban Composter is installed at underground recycling stations, an increasingly popular trend in Europe,” according to the competition statement. “The composting process is promising for implementation in an urban environment.”
The Urban Composter (pictured) scored very well for choice of materials and the manufacturing process. It’s made from stainless steel, which is resistant to corrosion and is recyclable. The amount of material was kept to a minimum, and standard components, which can be quickly and simply replaced, were used.
The Ovam award, said the agency, “rewards students who, already during their studies, consciously tackle environmental bottlenecks in their designs. In this way, we hope to inspire these young designers to take into account ecodesign later, in their professional careers.”
Eighty students from the design departments at Flemish university colleges participated in this year’s Ovam Ecodesign Award. A jury of environment and design specialists chose seven laureates in two categories: graduation project and short-term project. The main prize for the graduation project, won by Op de Beeck, is worth €1,000. First prize in the short-term project category is worth €600. The public award is worth €200.
