Izhar Gafni, an Israeli expert in the design of automated mass production lines discovered after years of research an opportunity to increase the structural performance of corrugated banal cardboard (usually used only in packaging) to make bicycles.
Based on a mixture of organic materials (protected by international patents) combined with rubber reinforcement from recycled car tires, cardboard acquired an almost miraculous resistance to water and fire. It took a year and a half to design the bicycle based on this material. Even at the gear they do not use metal components, but likewise recycled materials (car driving belt instead of chain besides wheels made of solid rubber recycled by reconstitution).
The figures are impressive: the materials needed for production (which will be launched next year) – about $ 10, cost of sale – up to $ 20, lifetime – about 10 years, weight – about 9 kg, zero maintenance… Social target is also remarkable: poor people (especially African market), non-profit organizations (a wheelchair is next), labour force usually rejected out of the normal industrial environment (pensioners, disabled people), municipalities around the world promoting low-cost rental bike centres (an electric model is already in preparation).
We are therefore talking not only of a smart product design, but also a model of social entrepreneurship, heavily supported by government grants and advertising. Behold, new economic, cultural and social situations inevitably lead to new practices and products, as long as the creative intelligence is channelled proportional to the constraints and challenges.
this article was published in Zeppelin no. 110 / december 2012 – january 2013
Project: Izhar Gafni
Text: Cosmin Caciuc
