Op-Ed Submission
The Earth Times focuses on green and environmental issues. We chose this outlet to submit our op-ed because the product and topic align with their Op-Ed sections well.
http://www.earthtimes.org/cn/
Editor-in-chief editor @ earthtimes.org
Stay Sixty
Stay Sixty is a stainless steel water bottle that has a removable base. They have won multiple award sustainability awards with their innovative removable base.
https://staysixty.com
Examining Stay Sixty’s Award Winning Sustainable Design Using Life’s Principles
In 2006, plastic water bottles consumed in the U.S. used more than 17 million bottles of oil, produced more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide, and used three liters of water to generate one liter of bottled water, according to the Pacific Institute. Many plastic bottles also contain BPA, an endocrine disruptor and the World Health Organizations has linked BPA to infertility and heart disease. For our health and the health of the planet, it’s clear that we must leave plastic water bottles behind and seek out a reusable alternative. Enter the Stay Sixty, an award-winning design praised for its sustainable efforts.
Conceived in Dalston, London, the Stay Sixty bottle was designed to be fashionable, functional, and reusable, featuring a removable base that allows for easier cleaning. The bottle was created as a sustainable alternative to plastic bottles, but how sustainable is it? To fully assess this design, we turn to Life’s Principles, a guiding tool that seeks to meet nature’s fundamental survival strategies by imitating how life has developed methods to survive. These principles are founded on the idea that nature has had over 3.8 billion years to evolve and adapt in ways that are efficient, sustainable, and conducive to life. They can be applied to product design, engineering, and even in the restructuring of businesses to create a proactive approach that helps ensure sustainability throughout. Life’s Principles has six main principles: adapt to changing conditions, be locally attuned and responsive, use life-friendly chemistry, be resource efficient, integrate development with growth, and evolve to survive.
The Stay Sixty’s simple design, which holds 500 ml (17 oz), fits in a cup holder, and features a loop for easy transportation, fits the function of a daily use water bottle. Its double-walled design keeps drinks cold and prevents condensation. This form uses materials efficiently by fitting form to function, and optimizing the strength of the design by using a multi-layered nested form.
The bottle is primarily made of 304 stainless steel, the most commonly used form of stainless steel and a material that can be reused without breaking down. Stay Sixty’s decision to opt for a widely available, recyclable, and non-toxic material instead of plastic reflects a production model that is more resource efficient, attuned to available resources, and uses life-friendly chemistry. The steel body of the bottle is coated by a water-based matte rubberized paint that is non-toxic and non-hazardous. The paint can be broken down into benign components that do not pose a hazard as a toxin or pollutant. Stay Sixty’s bottle is designed to be sturdy, easy to clean, and long-lasting, representing a long-term use model, opposed to the one-use model of disposable bottles. This long-lasting design, in addition to recyclable materials, reflects a wise use of resources. The bottle is even packaged in recyclable packaging, which reflects Stay Sixty’s consideration of sustainability beyond the product itself.
Stay Sixty water bottle represents an important shift from wasteful, toxic products with a short use life to a more sustainable reusable option. Through the assessment lens of Life’s Principles, the Stay Sixty falls short in some regards; however, these shortcomings do not reflect failings on the part of Stay Sixty, but opportunities for improving an already strong design. A major area of improvement as dictated by Life’s Principles would be the use of renewable energy in production. The materials used, especially the steel body, present an opportunity for Stay Sixty to recycle old bottles through a take-back program with consumers. The availability and reusability of stainless steel also poses an opportunity for a more locally attuned production model involving a cooperative relationship with a source of recycled steel. The bottle’s removable base and lid reflect the potential of increasing product lifespan through the sale of spare parts. The base also appears to be molded from plastic, and this component could potentially be improved by being shaped from the same steel as the rest of the bottle. The Stay Sixty represents a step away from unsustainable, harmful plastic bottles, and shows promise as a product that reflects Life’s Principles. By building upon these principles further, Stay Sixty could arrive at a truly great product that supports life instead of harming it.