LastSwab 可重用棉花棒 by LastObject is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award 金獎 in 可持續產品設計 Competition Category.

金可持續產品· 2021

LastSwab 可重用棉花棒

by LastObject

Client: LastObject

A' Design Award 金獎 Winner in 可持續產品 Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #122832

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Colors

The Design

About LastSwab 可重用棉花棒

LastSwab係一款可重用嘅棉花棒，作為即棄棉花棒嘅替代品。LastSwab可以使用多達一千次，易用又易清潔。其外形設計令人感覺就好似熟悉嘅棉花棒一樣。產品有兩個版本：適合一般用途嘅基本版，同埋設有斜角棒頭、方便修正化妝嘅美妝版。兩個版本都附有一個由回收海洋塑膠製成嘅便攜盒，而棒身同樣採用呢種物料。棒頭則以熱塑性彈性體製成，唔會吸水。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 金獎

LastSwab 可重用棉花棒是 A' Design Award 金獎得主，這是授予一流、絕妙而傑出設計的極為崇高的認可。金獎得主是極具創新、極富遠見且璀璨奪目的創作，反映出其設計師的天才、智慧與才幹。預計LastSwab 可重用棉花棒將成為一項備受讚譽、引領潮流、氣勢恢宏的發明，帶來前所未有的價值。這件贏得 A' Design Award 金獎的設計是一個壯觀而受人敬重的項目，極大地造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。LastSwab 可重用棉花棒激起強烈的渴望，喚起激情，鼓勵創造力，令我們著迷。

Behind the Design

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