LastSwab Reusable Swab by LastObject is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Golden A' Design Award in Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design Competition Category.
GoldSustainable Product· 2021
LastSwab Reusable Swab
by LastObject
Client: LastObject
Golden A' Design Award Winner in Sustainable Product Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #122832The Design
About LastSwab Reusable Swab
LastSwab is a reusable swab created as an alternative to single-use cotton swabs. LastSwab can be used up to a thousand times and is easy to use and easy to clean. The shape is designed to feel like a familiar cotton swab. Two versions are made: a Basic version for general use and a Beauty version with an angled tip for correcting make-up. Both versions come in a carrying case made from recycled ocean-bound plastic, which is also used for the rod. The tip is made of thermoplastic elastomer and does not absorb water.
The Recognition
About the Golden A' Design Award
LastSwab Reusable Swab is a Golden A' Design Award winner, an immensely prestigious recognition granted to first-rate, marvelous, and outstanding designs. Golden winners are exceedingly innovative, visionary, and glamorously dazzling creations that reflect the prodigy, wisdom, and prowess of their designers. LastSwab Reusable Swab is expected to be a highly praised, trendsetting, and monumental invention that delivers unprecedented value. This Golden A' Design Award-winning design is a spectacular, respected project that highly benefits and advances the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. LastSwab Reusable Swab creates intense feelings of desire, evokes passion, encourages creativity, and fascinates us.
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Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- LastSwab is a reusable and sustainable alternative to single-use cotton swabs. LastSwab is designed to be used up to a thousand times and to be easy to use, easy to clean, and most importantly designed to feel like the swabs we are used to. It is made in two versions, a Basic version to replace the purpose of a cotton swab, and a Beauty version with an angled tip for correcting make-up. Both come in a carrying case made from recycled ocean-bound plastic, which is also used for the rod of the swab.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- LastSwab (in carrying case): Width 109 mm x Depth 18 mm x Height 14 mm
- Tags
- Reusable, Sustainable, Swab, Buds, Q Tip, Alternative, Ocean Bound Plastic, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Ears
- Production Technology
- In collaboration with Resea Project, ocean-bound plastic is collected and driven to a factory where it is transformed into plastic pellets. Afterward, the plastic pellets are pressed through an injection mold and into molds that shape the rod. Then the rod is mechanically removed, turned, and over-molded. In the next step, the tip made of TPE is applied to the rod. Finally, the swab is put into the carrying case, which undergoes the same stage of production as the rod, only in a different mold.
- Design Challenge
- The hardest part is creating something new, while at the same time not forcing change upon the user. We all know how hard it is to change our habits. If you create a product that expects the user to change a habit you risk them buying it but not using it. This would defeat the purpose of LastObject. Creating something beautiful, durable, simple, environmentally friendly, and self-explanatory is also important, but less of a challenge.
- Research
- Online search will usually lead to scientific or business reports. Ultimately we'll create several "life cycle assessment" reports for each of our products to understand the impact better. It starts with the question: Does this need to be a single-use item?
We used Google and Wikipedia which then led us to more hard facts.
We do user trials with prototypes. Our process is quite circular: research, design, tests, feedback, design changes, or new research and repeat. - Inspiration
- Every day 1.5 billion disposable cotton swabs are produced and every year an average person uses hundreds of them. To manufacture a disposable cotton swab resources have to be taken out of the ground, moved to a production facility, produced, packaged, shipped, and then purchased by a consumer. This entire procedure requires the cotton swab to be used once and then discarded. By using LastSwab we eliminate the need to produce and use resources that are unnecessary.
- Project Duration
- The project started in November 2018 in Copenhagen and LastSwab launched on the crowdfunding platforms Kickstarter and IndieGoGo in April 2019. LastSwab is now available on our own website.
- Operation Flow
- When using LastSwab, simply take it out of the carrying case and use it for any purpose you may have. It can be used for anything that you would use a regular cotton swab for. It does not absorb water. After using it, you can clean it with hot water and soap.
The beauty swab has an angled tip that is made for correcting make-up. - Patents
- Patent Application No: PCT/EP2020/050768 - PCT
- Team Members
- Isabel Aagaard
Nicolas Aagaard
Kåre Frandsen - Image Credits
- Image #1, Photographer Tetiana Kolosko, 2021
Optional Image #1, Photographer Tetiana Kolosko, 2021
Optional Image #2, Photographer Tetiana Kolosko, 2021
Optional Image #3, Photographer Tetiana Kolosko, 2021
Optional Image #4, Photographer Tetiana Kolosko, 2021
Video Credits:Edvinas Maciulevicius and Louise B.Maciulevicius, silksocial.co, 2020
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