Client
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Industry
Circular Economy
Scope
Product Design
Product Development
Rapid Prototyping
Breathing New Life Into Lifeboat Funding: A sustainable solution to donor gifts
The Challenge: Repurpose an unsustainable material to spread the message of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
In 2018 the RNLI decommissioned 300 of their lifesaving rib boats. Committed to incorporating sustainability into their organisation, the RNLI set a design challenge: Using the circular economy model, develop a product to repurpose the Hypalon (material used to make the boat’s inflatable pontoons) that will otherwise be discarded. Importantly, the product should spread the RNLI’s message and be cheap, and sustainable to produce in the United Kingdom.
The Solution
Our founder Ricky is a PADI Divemaster and Seaskipper and has long relied on the work of NGOs such as the RNLI (UK) and NSRI (SA)—this project was a small way to give back. Interviews with RNLI representatives revealed that volunteers who canvas for donation is one of the key ways the charity makes money and spreads its message. Often, donors are gifted a token of RNLI merchandise. In the past, these tokens have been cheap plastic gimmicks, usually imported from China. Considering these factors, we designed and developed a keyring that could be laser-cut or cookie-cut out of the Hypalon. The keyrings could be engraved with a message from the organisation and then given to donors. The concept was to use the old material in a novel and interesting way that would spread the message, spark conversation and connect with donors.
The Result
The design fits into the RNLI’s sustainability model as they could be mass-produced locally and required only metal rings as additional material. Moreover, the keyrings were designed to waste as little of the Hypalon as possible.
Key Takeaway
Prioritise sustainability and design simple solutions that are realistic to implement at scale.
Human-centred design that changes behaviour, solves problems and communicates big ideas.
Contact
info@studiofundi.com
+44 (0) 79 4365 4209
