Dryer lint disposal & waste material Tumble dryer lint blocks dryers, limits their lifespan and causes fires as well as contributing to household waste. Obviously minimizing dryer lint production is key but employing it into reuse and giving it a second life might be a potential solution. Used clothing also produces 92 million tonnes of waste per year which is a prevailing, current global issue that needs to be addressed.
The BEarOPEN Lint collector TED (Today’s Eco-Design) is a dryer lint collector. The product is a hand-made teddy bear casing that would commercialize dryer lint collection within the home. The casing is made of used clothing or fabrics that cannot have a second life through wearing it or their original intended use. The materials are collected at specially designated collection points and then used to manufacture the BEarOPEN teddy casings. The casings would be cut out and sewn together by hand leaving the stiches showing, to bring out a simple, cozy ambiance. The teddy casings are then given those who donate clothes depending on the amount of clothing you donate, the number of teddy casings you get increases. They can also be bought separately at the collection points.
Once the teddy casings reach the homes the lint collecting begins. Once you clean out your dryer simply fill up the casing with the lint produced from the wash. Keep filling it until its full and zip it up. Now you have a ready to go toy teddy bear plushie! After this there are a number of options. You can keep you teddy, bring it back to receive money back or another teddy casing and/or bring us the collected lint and keep your casing to refill again. All returned bears are sent to help children’s charities, same with any clothes collected that are still in good enough condition to be worn again.
This is a fun way of promoting the up-cycling of used goods such as old clothing, buttons and dryer lint itself. By using the BEarOPEN lint collector we would be promoting tumble dryer users to empty their lint vents more regularly which in turn would prevent the risk of house fires. This would educate consumers on the contemporary sustainability concerns as well as prolonging the lifespan of clothing items, buttons, fabrics etc. which in turn reduces waste. Another benefit to using this lint collector would be the promotion or creativity and innovation in both adults and children. The teddy gives a homemade vibe that gives a sense of “making it yourself”. Job and volunteer opportunities in the sales department, textiles and charity work would increase respectively. Finally, the product would help children in need and those who cannot afford be buy toys.
All in all reusing lint may seem like a minor issue. However, by providing a small product to incentivize consumer goods collection we can do more good that the naked eye can see. Some may simply see a teddy bear. Others will see a world or opportunity and constant innovation!
BEOPEN submission.pdf