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Biovessel 堆肥器 by Chen Hsiang Chao

Biovessel 堆肥器 by Chen Hsiang Chao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award 銅獎 in 可持續產品設計 Competition Category.


銅可持續產品· 2025

Biovessel 堆肥器

by Chen Hsiang Chao

Client: Bionicraft Co., Ltd.

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

Colors

The Design

About Biovessel 堆肥器

Biovessel 是一個室內生態系統堆肥器,靈感源自大自然,專為處理廚餘而設計,將大自然帶入你的都市家居,並透過將廚餘轉化為滋養新生命的養分,重新定義食物廢物。藉助蚯蚓、土壤及其微生物和水,Biovessel 內的生態系統重新定義了原本會被丟棄到垃圾桶的廢物。分解有機廢物的過程完全由大自然驅動,並創造出一個自給自足的生態系統,實現無異味、高效能的分解過程。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銅獎

Biovessel 堆肥器是 A' Design Award 銅獎得主,這是授予以創造力、獨創性和敏銳見長的傑出設計的極具聲望的認可。銅獎得主是技藝嫻熟、創意驚人的作品,印證了其設計師豐富的經驗、想像力與機智。預計Biovessel 堆肥器將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的物品,兼具顯著的專業性與創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銅獎的設計融入藝術、科學、設計和技術領域的最佳實踐,並因注重細節而出類拔萃。Biovessel 堆肥器出色地滿足需求,觸動渴望,迷住情感,並吸引好奇心。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Biovessel is an indoor ecosystem/composter inspired by nature and designed to deal with food waste, it brings nature into your urban home and redefines food waste by turning it into nutrients that feed new life.
With the help of earthworms, soil and its microorganisms, and water the ecosystem within Biovessel redefines waste, which is otherwise disposed of in bins. The process of breaking down the organic waste is purely powered by nature and creates a self-sustainable ecosystem that achieves odourless, high-efficiency decomposition.
Dimensions & Packaging
Width 450mm x Depth 225mm x Height 165mm
Tags
foodwaste, upcycle, bionic, nature, rewild
Production Technology
The form of Biovessel has not been deliberately designed for aesthetic appeal, neither is it another machine created to deal with the waste that humans have created, instead, we let nature decide. Biovessel has been created from the data collected and compiled from 20+ months of biological research, experiments, and observation on the process of food waste decomposition.
The information documented from these observations and experiments was then translated into quantitative data. By putting the data into a specially developed algorithm, Biovessel was born based on parametrics, ergonomics, etc.
Design Challenge
Transforming experimental data and overcoming the challenges of mass production are crucial aspects of this project. We spent a considerable amount of time converting virtual data into physical design forms using algorithms. Subsequently, we further refined these forms to suit mass production requirements. The form of the vessel is produced through blow moulding technology, and controlling its variables to achieve high production yield poses significant challenges.
Research
Biovessel has been created from the data collected and compiled from 20+ months of biological research, experiments, and observation on the process of food waste decomposition.
The ventilation holes on the top caps imitate the patterns of sunflower seed spirals, using the golden ratio and air permeability as parameters, we achieve the most optimal state for the internal environment.
The most suitable position and density for the openings on the cork wood lid are determined by the analysis of aerodynamic parameters.
Data from parameters such as experiments, biological behaviour, and other factors from the manufacturing process are integrated to create the form of the vessel. The end result of Biovessel is a form that fits the biological decomposition process and efficiency within the vessel to the largest extent.
Being defined and designed by nature, the ecosystem that Biovessel creates is most suitable for its inhabitants and is one that is most effective and convenient for its users.
Inspiration
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, roughly one-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year gets lost or wasted and ends up rotting in landfills, needlessly producing greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global warming and climate change. Biovessel is a solution that can be managed in urban homes and creates a self-sustainable ecosystem that reverses the vicious food waste cycle.
Project Duration
The project started in January 2016 and finished in October 2016 in Taipei.
Operation Flow
1. Place approximately 3000g of sawdust soil mix, containing 500g of composting worms into Biovessel. Spray the surface with water to moisten the environment and check for moisture(3-5), light(100-300), and pH level(7-8) through Observation Hole.
2. Put chopped bits from food ingredients into a waste container and empty containers into the Food Waste Inlet Hole. Do not exceed container capacity each time. Put top caps back on Biovessel and wait for the ecosystem to work its magic.
3. Spray the surface with water to moisten the environment through the Outlet Hole and check for moisture(3-5), light(100-300), and pH level(7-8) through the Observation Hole.
4. Harvest an adequate amount of fertilizer from the surface layer of the Outlet Hole. Feed your plants.
Patents
Patented: Biovessel - Device for converting kitchen waste to organic fertilizer
Patent No: TW 105208269
Patent Holder: Chen-Hsiang Chao
Year: 2017
Jurisdiction: Taiwan Intellectual Property Office
Team Members
Designer: Chen-Hsiang Chao
Image Credits
Copyrights belong to Bionicraft Co., Ltd

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