The difficult path to sustainability and circularity.
Sustainability and circularity are becoming increasingly important in the design of new products. GBO Innovation makers helps companies with this transition. 'We are at the forefront of this development. Decisions about materials, connections, and constructions ultimately determine the environmental impacts. That is why we ensure that we have the latest knowledge in-house, so we can assist our clients in their choices,' says Jacques Gramser.
A refill for the well-known Pritt stick (2004), a refillable blank roller (Pelikan, 2004), a plastic underground rainwater collection barrel (Rocko, 2005), a stackable cup holder for very thin coffee cups (Haval, 2009), a cardboard package that also serves as a manual (WakaWaka, 2015). This is just a selection of the designs with which GBO was able to make at least a small contribution to a better world. And of course, the Crown Ring (GBO, 2010), the well-known gray ring for around a lamppost where you can hang a bag of plastic waste. A unique product of GBO that is used by around a hundred municipalities in the Netherlands.
“Avoid harmful substances. Design products in such a way that they last longer and are easier to repair, allowing for easier replacement of parts. Also, reduce the number of components. Use materials as efficiently as possible. Reduce energy consumption. Ensure that products are easier to recycle at the end of their lifespan. These are principles that we at GBO have been applying since the beginning,” says Jacques Gramser. “However, for many clients, the cost price is usually the central focus. It’s encouraging to see that the urgency for sustainability and circularity is now significantly increasing. Due to regulations, because consumers value it, and because brands want to have that image, and of course, because more and more companies want to pursue it themselves. This gives us more and stronger arguments to convince our clients that they too need to head in that direction.”
In collaboration with Haval, we developed Circulware as an alternative to disposable tableware.
The Dutch government aims for a fifty percent reduction in the use of primary raw materials by 2030 (minerals, metals, and fossil fuels) and a circular economy by 2050. An economy in which as many sustainable, renewable raw materials as possible are used, products and materials are reused, and waste does not exist.
But the road to achieving this is not always easy or straightforward. Take plastic, for example. Recycled plastic is not always readily available, or future supply is uncertain. Moreover, the characteristics and properties of many new materials that could potentially serve as better alternatives — such as hardness, flexibility, and behavior in a mold — are not always known, especially in the long term. Additionally, these new materials are not always compatible with existing processing methods, machines, or processes.
To assist clients as effectively as possible during this challenging transition, GBO closely monitors developments and continuously updates its knowledge of materials, processes, and legislation. This is facilitated by excellent contacts with knowledge institutions, the influx of young designers, and a constant stream of interns with fresh ideas. GBO has also opened a location at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen, the center for innovation in the field of plastics, which includes the leading Brightlands Materials Center of TNO.
We are known for our distinctive designs, with which we have already won many prestigious design awards. We develop products with the right choices of materials and constructions, using knowledge of the latest technology and always with attention to people and the environment.
