Press Release
Silver A' Design Award in Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design Goes to Bioplates Biodegradable Tableware by Alex Hell
The international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Alex Hell for sustainable products, projects and green design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 25, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Bioplates Biodegradable Tableware by Alex Hell, designed for Studioneves, has been granted the Silver A' Design Award in the Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design category. The recognition forms part of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Silver A' Design Award
The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Regarding Bioplates Biodegradable Tableware
Bioplates is a biodegradable and compostable tableware piece developed for professional hospitality. Made from a next-generation biopolymer with mineral reinforcement, it resists up to 140C and over 7000 industrial dishwasher cycles. Its textured surface helps to hide cutlery marks, while the engraved bottom shares an environmental message. Stackable, elegant, lightweight, and carbon negative, Bioplates offers a regenerative alternative to melamine and porcelain in luxury outdoor service, combining design and responsibility.
About Alex Hell
Alex Hell is a Brazilian designer and co-founder of Studioneves, a ceramic atelier based in Portugal that develops sustainable, handcrafted tableware for the hospitality sector. With a background in events and communication, he transitioned to product design with a focus on environmental impact, material innovation, and practical application in professional kitchens. Since 2019, he has led sustainability initiatives within the company, including its B-Corp certification and the creation of guides to support responsible practices in ceramics and gastronomy. His work contributes to industry-wide discussions on circular design and climate-conscious production models for functional objects.
Award Record
Alex Hell is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design Award
The A' Sustainable Product Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good sustainable products by leading designers and brands worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to sustainable product designers, green product manufacturers, eco-friendly product brands and industrial designers from all countries. Typical entries include sustainable projects, environment friendly designs, recycled, upcycled and bio-degradable products. The awarded sustainable product designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/sustainable-product
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/172846
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/172846
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!172846
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/368618
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.studioneves.com
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Bioplates Biodegradable Tableware
- Function
- Biodegradable Tableware
- Category
- Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Sustainability
- Colors
- Gainsboro, Silver, Dark Gray, Gray and Dim Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Studioneves
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Alex Hell
- Country
- Portugal
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #172846
Credits
- Team
- Studioneves Team and University of Aveiro and Sublime Hotel
- Image Credits
- Photographer Alex Hell (Creative Director) Studioneves, Bioplates – Front View with Broken Porcelain, 2025.; Photographer Alex Hell (Creative Director) Studioneves, Bioplates – Top View with Textured Surface, 2025.; Photographer Alex Hell (Creative Director) Studioneves, Bioplates – top view of contemporary model, 2025.; Photographer Alex Hell (Creative Director) Studioneves, Bioplates – Detail of Engraving, 2025.; Photographer Alex Hell (Creative Director) Studioneves, Bioplates – top view of classic model, 2025. Video #1: Videomaker Henrique Casta, Bioplates Cicle, 2025 Video #2: Videomaker Henrique Casta, Bioplates Inspirational, 2025
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Bioplates is a fully biodegradable and compostable tableware solution for professional use. Made from a certified next-gen biopolymer, it withstands 140C and over 7,000 industrial wash cycles, without leaving microplastics or toxic residue. Its textured surface hides wear, while engraved messages engage users. Durable, elegant and carbon-negative by design.
- Inspiration
- The project was born from a contradiction: eco-conscious hotels still use melamine or porcelain, which never biodegrade. As a B-Corp working with the world's top chefs, we felt the need for a truly circular solution. We researched biopolymers and partnered with university labs to develop a durable, fully compostable tableware fit for real hospitality use - elegant, regenerative and educational.
- Research
- Material research focused on developing biodegradable, high-performance tableware. The objective was to replace melamine and porcelain in outdoor hospitality. We used lab testing, field trials and iterative design. Tools included mechanical stress tests, dishwasher simulation, and heat resistance analysis. Tests were conducted with the University of Aveiro and hotel partners. Results proved 140C tolerance and 7,000 wash cycles. Insights showed it is possible to unite durability, biodegradability, and elegance.
- Challenge
- The greatest challenge was balancing biodegradability with professional durability. Most compostable materials are fragile or unsuitable for hospitality. We had to create a formula that resisted heat, impact, and repeated washing - without losing compostability. Legal compliance for food contact, limited industrial know-how, and the absence of references in circular tableware pushed us to prototype, test and refine through scientific and design-led collaboration.
- Realization and Technology
- Bioplates are produced via precision injection molding using a proprietary biopolymer blend with patent pending, reinforced with natural minerals. Molds are stainless steel, optimized for uniform temperature (143C melt, 70C mold) and slow rotation. Texture and engravings are in-mold, minimizing post-processing. The material is TUV certified for biodegradation in soil, marine and compost environments.
- Operation and Interaction
- Bioplates are used like any standard dish but offer a better experience in both function and conscience. Their textured surface hides cutlery marks, keeping the plate elegant longer. They are lightweight, stackable, and safe for dishwashers and high temperatures. The engraved message on the back invites reflection, turning a simple meal into a moment of environmental awareness.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in January 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal, with early material research and design prototyping. Technical testing took place throughout 2024 in collaboration with the University of Aveiro. Final prototypes were completed in January 2025. Bioplates are currently being tested in real-world hospitality settings by a few selected hotels to gather qualified testimonials and performance feedback by the end of 2025.
- Specifications
- Dimensions: 215 mm diameter x 15 mm height. The plate features a slightly irregular rim for a handcrafted aesthetic. It is lightweight yet impact-resistant, suitable for industrial dishwashers and temperatures up to 140C. Packaging is made entirely from recycled, compostable paper, with no plastic components. Units are stacked with protective recycled paper sheets and shipped in low-volume boxes optimized for logistics and minimal waste.
- Keywords
- biodegradable tableware, compostable plate, sustainable design, circular product, eco innovation, regenerative material, plastic alternative, hospitality tableware, carbon negative, eco friendly dishware
