Tag Archives: sustainable travel

This sustainable amenity kit produces clean energy & reduces plastic waste for hotels when composted

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All industries are making an effort to pivot and use more sustainable designs in an effort to slow down the climate crisis. We are seeing a boom in material experimentation and exploration, especially to make products that are biodegradable because that encourages a circular economy that works for the planet and the user. Single-use plastic is one of the biggest non-biodegradable contributors to ocean pollution. My biggest pet-peeve is when hotels have each item in their toiletries kit wrapped in plastic – it is so unnecessary and given the turnover of these items, it creates a tonne of waste. The Green Box is an innovative solution that aligns hotel stays with your sustainable lifestyle choices!

It is an amenity kit designed to help hotels to transition to a circular economy and avoid the waste generated by tens-of-millions of amenity kits are thrown away by hotel chains – we use them once but they last forever on our planet. Green box is made from compostable plastic which will let hotels industrially compost and organically recycle the items in a controlled environment. The design goes beyond providing functional value and also aims to educate guests about the material and its impact to encourage better choices even after the vacation ends. Each box comes with a disposable bin for the room to familiarize guests with the new kind of waste-stream. The guests will sort materials as compostable and non-compostable by simply following the color grading – green for compostable and white for general waste. Then they will put the green compostable items in the green part of the box and the white parts (contaminated with bacterias to be composted) will be disposed of with the general waste.

Once separated, the green items along with the rest of the organic waste from the hotel restaurant will be composted on an industrial facility. After 10 weeks of the methanization process, we will be left with soil and bio-gas which can be used to generate power. In fact, the Green Box might produce enough energy to power a standard LED light bulb for over 27 hours. The remaining organic matter left could be used as a soil fertilizer. The color system is easy to follow and by doing it themselves, the guests can see how much waste is being generated. This creates a beautiful circular design and business model for hotels to implement using bioplastics.

Designer: OnMateria

This minimal electric two-wheeler delivers the striking combination of technical quality and low waste design!

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Nowadays, electric scooters belong in cities like boats belong on the water. Some scooters prioritize aesthetics, some cater to environmental sustainability, some just have a need for speed. Then, there are some special designs in circulation today that do it all, delivering both sustainability and aesthetics, as well as an in on the fast lane. NAON, a Berlin-based company devoted to spearheading the sustainable shift in personal mobility, strikes that ideal balance with their new electric two-wheeler prototype called Zero-One.

Taking on a minimalist approach to design, Zero-One’s lightweight feel was purposeful for NAON. Speaking to this, the design team says, “By utilizing functional components as key styling elements, we are able to simplify our product and apply more focus on refining every detail.” For instance, the scooter’s motor is found in the rear wheel’s hub, which gives Zero-One not only better traction and smoother acceleration but also an overall stealthier appearance. With the main motor located in the scooter’s rear wheel, no chains or belts are needed to generate additional moving power. The 7 kW motor is accompanied by 200Nm worth of torque so that no matter the traffic, with Zero-One, you can beat it. One look at this design tells you the designer has stripped away everything unnecessary, leaving behind what is needed in a modern yet sleek case, from the suspensions, the handle, and wrapped till the back too.

As far as speed is concerned, NAON offers two versions of Zero-One, offering different top speeds. The first version, L1e is limited to around 28mph due to street regulations and licensing setbacks. The second version called the L3e offers speeds upwards of 60mph to give each morning’s commute a proper boost. Each Zero-One comes ready with a single, detachable 2.4kWh battery located in the scooter’s footrest, which equips each scooter with just over 12 miles to each full charge. If riders hope to increase their mileage, adding a second battery will double each full charge’s range.

Manufacturing Zero-One produces minimal waste thanks to the combination of recyclable and responsibly sourced construction material – locally manufactured onsite in Berlin, NAON sourced recyclable material to construct Zero-One to maintain a small footprint. Love is in the details when it comes to Zero-One. The scooter’s transparent leg shield, for example, not only offers a refreshing, new perspective for riders and onlookers but was also built to be scratch-resistant and filter UV rays. Additionally, equipped with a high-end brake and suspension system as well as a low overall center of gravity, Zero-One’s two-person bench keeps the balance for a steady ride. City scooters are generally known for their heft and bulk, but everything about Zero-One is light: its matte-smooth body, low overall footprint, and aluminum frame.

Designer: NAON

Glamping gets a sustainable upgrade with what designers call ‘architectural ecotourism’!

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The O’Reilly’s campground is nestled in Queensland’s lush Lamington National Park and is an example of how glamping can be eco-friendly if we make the right design choices! The project shines a light on architecture-inspired ecotourism with a fully functioning campsite equipped with all amenities. O’Reilly is different because it was created keeping sustainable building practices at its core so as to not disturb the pristine landscape but at the same time let guests be immersed in it.

The campground includes buildings featuring a kitchen, common gathering spaces, a fire pit and more. All the facilities were carefully constructed by consciously choosing to make it environmentally friendly – lightweight structures used sustainably sourced timber, an on site sewer treatment to avoid adding waste to natural water bodies, collecting rain water, having passive solar access, cross ventilation to reduce power consumption, growing and preserving vegetation and more.

Guests will be able to enjoy an authentic camping experience without the hassle of bringing their own equipment (such as safari tents, linen, firewood and food) or pretending to be on an episode of the Survivor. The campground has universal design so it is accessible and inclusive of all groups of people who want to spend time in nature. Guests can choose to stay in glamping safari tents or bring their RVs as the site provides a place for both powered and unpowered vehicles.

O’Reilly’s architectural design was the bridge to help facilitate a deeper connection to the environment and that commitment is seen in every element of the campground – skeletal structure resembles a tree canopy so it can provide shelter while protecting the views of the surrounding mountain ranges and the interior elements are filled with linear structural design details to represent the linear patterns of the surrounding rainforests! The glamping site is an embodiment of a beautiful, respectful and playful relationship between humans and nature.

Designer: Aspect Architecture

This retro nautical-inspired teardrop caravan adds a dash of luxury to your camping experience!

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In the age of COVID-19, it seems that the only type of trip we can responsibly get away with is camping. Since it’s such a specific way of traveling and new to many of us in 2020, it’s helpful when our budget permits the use of luxury camping vehicles like teardrop caravans. Newer caravan designs such as La Carapate from the French manufacturer, Carapate, were conceptualized a few years before the quarantine of 2020, but with camping’s popularity only surging, they already stand the test of time.

While the caravan was not designed to resemble a teardrop, but rather a trapezoid, the makers behind it still call the final design a teardrop caravan. La Carapate has many features that set it apart from other caravans on the market. For instance, instead of a swinging door, you might expect to see on a classic caravan, La Carapate’s door functions as a sturdy flap, which locks into place by means of gas pressure swings, in order to provide campers with ample shade and easy access to both the caravan’s interior and the outdoors. Adjacent to La Carapate’s flap door is a drawer that converts from handy indoor storage space for cookware to an exterior cooking unit that could also extend into a table for further use as an outdoor dining area. The true appeal of this camper lies in its trapezoidal shape and the blue and yellow nautical color scheme. The rounded edges with a bold yellow trim and the unique side-door that swings open to reveal the surprisingly spacious interiors – it brings to mind the wooden interiors seen in older cars and the result is touchingly nostalgic.

Users have the option of purchasing a fully-operative kitchen which includes a gas cooker, sink, set of tableware, and additional saucepans. A simpler version could be purchased for less, which includes all you need for camping: a gas cooker and a 12-liter sink. The main part of the caravan comes with mattresses that provide lots of space for all the campers using the caravan – a big upgrade from sleeping in tents. Equipped with a solar panel, La Carapate is manufactured and utilized in an ecologically responsible way. Everything from the material used, to the compact size of this caravan, and the hyperlocal approach to sourcing and manufacturing speaks to the founders’ commitment to ecotourism and sustainable travel.

La Carapate comes fully functioning with panoramic views and miniature living space. Camping doesn’t necessarily require prerequisites, but it typically brings together those who feel passionate about traveling, alternative accommodation, and the natural world. For the founders of La Carapate, these passions came together and inspired their own interpretation of the teardrop caravan. La Carapate is filled with lots more exciting, hidden features: skylight, mosquito net, blackout shades, fire extinguisher, CEE plug, cigarette lighter, some 220 volts outlets, USB ports, vanity mirrors, and many more. Scroll through the photos below and find out for yourself!

Designers: Fabien Denis, Jean-Marie Reymond x Carapate

This electric tiny camper is a houseboat and trike designed to travel on land and water!

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Just to be fully prepared for all possibilities 2020 can bring, Zeltini has designed Z-Triton – an electric houseboat that does it all! The concept of having a vehicle that is a house, boat, and trike combined that travels over land and water is something straight out of a Spy Kids movie but Zeltini really came through with a real one!

The Z-Triton Electric Houseboat was created as a vehicle that could serve as an alternative to the traditional camper. It is comfortable enough to house two adults for a weekend getaway and the choice of land or water is up to the travelers. The amphibious nature of the modern camper fits into the flexible lifestyle we lead today, especially since air travel is not on the cards anytime soon it is opening up a lot of avenues for local trips in less popular/offbeat locations. The durable houseboat measures 3.6 meters in length, 1.2 meters in width, and 1.55 meters in height.

The team is testing the prototype by driving it around in different weather conditions to see if this tiny electric camper can be an all-terrain travel vehicle. It uses electric assistance that lets the users control power, lighting, temperature, and more. Simply fold up the seat and it unveils the floor space for two people to lay down. This quirky blue and orange vehicle has a tricycle mounted on one side that conveniently folds up or down to transition from land to water. Z-Triton will encourage more sustainable tourism and will allow people to travel spontaneously. It is scheduled to hit the market in 2021 and I am already making a list of places I want to take it to!

Designer: Zeltini

This 100% electric pod inspired by James Bond is the worlds first floating eco-hotel suite!

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Half the year is over and we haven’t been able to catch a break. To keep my hopes up, I continue to make a travel bucket list, and right now all I want to do is go off-the-grid regardless of the place. And there is nothing more perfect for that than Anthénea which is the world’s first autonomous and eco-friendly floating suite equipped with high-end facilities. This modern pod will literally wash all those worries away and you can continue being an eco-conscious traveler!

Anthénea is a UFO-shaped water suite made in France by veteran designers, engineers, and naval architects, whose vision was to create a nomadic vessel for eco-conscious tourists. It was a project born from the dreams of Jean-Michel Ducancelle, a naval architect, who was inspired by James Bond’s floating pod in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ (1977). The 50 sqm pod has three living spaces – a living area, a sleeping zone, and a lounge area that features a 360° solarium on its roof for 12 people. All interior elements are entirely made from sustainable materials. Anthénea adapts to a wide temperature range (-30°C to +40°C) and its stabilizing ballasting keeps the seasickness at bay! Coastlines are often overburdened with tourism and Anthénea offers an ecological way to lighten that load while promoting sustainable travel which is our ultimate future.

The design has been decided upon after extensive study so that it can resist cataclysms and the rise of oceans. Its spherical shape is based on the principle of surface tension observed in nature. This is the optimal form of resistance to extreme conditions on the water. “By its shape and lift on water technology, the peripheral crown enhances the stability of the pod,” adds the team. It is equipped with silent electric motors that can keep it afloat indefinitely thanks to five south-facing solar panels and two electric propulsion pods. “Anthénea only uses solar power. An energy sensor dome meets the electrical and hot water needs. The home is equipped with certified black and gray water stations. She produces what she consumes and releases clean water only,” says the team. The domed shape helps optimize the sun’s rays for solar power and blend seamlessly into the environment. The central well serves as an undersea observatory and natural air conditioning system – design details like this about the structure makes Anthénea self-sustaining.

The most aesthetic part aside from the submarine-like views is the solarium with a motorized reclinable sunshade roof that enables it to automatically switch in the wind direction and facilitate natural ventilation of the living areas. All equipment and design choices are inspired by natural elements. Guests can upgrade their suites to include a desalination system and wood-burning stove that can be installed anywhere with zero environmental impact. Anthénea is a new kind of tourism, but also a new way of life in the face of many environmental challenges.

Designer: Jean-Michel Ducancelle of Anthénea

   

A solar-powered floating Airbnb that lets you be a sustainable traveler!

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Unprecedented circumstances where we are all cooped up in our houses during summer just means one thing – bookmarking Airbnb houses and organizing your Pinterest board by what vacation would you like to take in all four seasons. Why a different board for a different season? Because summer is likely to be canceled and we must be prepared with holiday homes, like the Lilypad, that can provide an exclusive experience at any time of the year. I am sure you have seen this before – traveling is canceled (for now) but dreaming isn’t, so with all this extra time I encourage you to join me in daydreaming of a recovery weekend in floating Australian Airbnb.

The Lilypad is a luxury villa designed by Chuck Anderson and is anchored just north of Sydney’s Palm Beach. Anderson is a boat enthusiast so it is no surprise that he created a floating house! This beautiful Airbnb is also eco-conscious, it is completely solar-powered and is slowly helping us pivot towards sustainable travel. The exterior of the house is made from timber and includes an open living area, a wine cellar, a sleeping loft and, of course, a bathroom (for all that wine that we will consume post quarantine on our holiday!). To feel fancy, you have an al fresco dining (means you can eat your food while enjoying the breeze and sun when going outside is cool again) and sunbathing area on the lower level which also boasts of an expansive terrace.

“Lilypad Palm Beach was born by breaking the mold of traditional boating design to create the most unique sustainable escape with uncompromised luxuries,” says Anderson. The white interiors are a soothing contrast to the blue waters and make the natural light that comes in glow more. It’ll also be fun to have a paddleboard race on the waterfront as this Airbnb comes equipped with paddleboards, fishing equipment, and a tender to take to the beach nearby. To add a cherry on top of this dream vacation, the property also comes with a 24-hour concierge who can arrange for on-site massages. Go on, check out, I am going to stay here in my daydream for now.

Designer: Lilypad by Chuck Anderson