New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Concept category

Identify the award category for which this concept is being submitted
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking

Email user
raquel8nm@gmail.com

Basic information
Concept title
BIORAGO

Full Concept Title
BIORAGO, the biomaterial based on borage waste.

Please provide a short, catchy description of your concept to be used in communication towards the public
BIORAGO is a borage bioplastic that serves as an alternative to fossil-based plastics used in single-use applications.

Design and manufacture of a biomaterial composed of waste from the agri-food industry. Specifically, this project aims to revalue the waste from the borage cleaning process. After testing the properties of the material and verifying its behavior, a bag was manufactured by laser cutting a sheet of this bioplastic.

What was the geographical scope of your concept?
Regional

Where was your concept implemented?
Member State(s) and Western Balkans
Spain

If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
Mas de las Matas, Aguaviva, Zaragoza.

Does your concept address mainly urban or rural issues?
It addresses urban-rural linkages

Does your concept refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)

Has your concept benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
No

Has your concept won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As an individual
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
- URL: http://www.linkedin.com/in/raquel-navarro-miguel
- URL: https://youtu.be/RbrszPfyLUE
In case my concept is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my concept in the channels of the European Commission
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
Social Media

Description of the concept
Please provide a summary of your concept.
BIORAGO is a borage bioplastic that serves as an alternative to petroleum-derived plastics used in single-use applications.

Design and manufacture of a biomaterial composed of waste from the agri-food industry. Specifically, this project aims to revalue the waste from the borage cleaning process. After testing the properties of the material and verifying its behavior, a bag was manufactured by laser cutting a sheet of this bioplastic. One of the objectives of this project is to raise awareness and motivate people to revalue the food waste that is generated daily.

More than 70% of single-use plastic ends up in the environment. One of the clearest examples of a single-use application is in the packaging of food products. Their life cycle is very short, since once their use is finished they are discarded. This project arises from the need to explore sustainable alternatives that bring us closer to the concept of circular economy from the perspective of materials and their applications. Specifically, it is intended to revalue the waste generated in the borage cleaning process. These borage residues are the main component of BIORAGO, a bioplastic that serves as an alternative to fossil-based plastics in single-use applications. The preparation process is very simple, since it is similar to cooking a recipe. To integrate the borage, it must be allowed to dry and then crushed. The other components of BIORAGO are also of plant origin, which makes this material compostable. After the mixture has dried, what is obtained is a biofilm with a behavior similar to that of the plastics used in packaging. This is why the design and manufacture of a BIORAGO bag is considered. For the manufacture of the bag, a BIORAGO sheet has been used, which has subsequently been cut and engraved using laser technology. The design is inspired by the mesh bags generally used to transport fruits. Thus obtaining a sustainable product that fulfills the function of transporting food.

Please indicate the main themes of your concept with 5 key words.
Biomaterials

Please indicate the main themes of your concept with key words
Circular Economy

Please indicate the main themes of your concept with key words
Bioplastics

Please indicate the main themes of your concept with key words
Agri-food industry

Please indicate the main themes of your concept with key words
Manufacturing

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept in terms of sustainability and how these have been met. Please highlight how the concept can be exemplary in this context.
The main objective was to develop a biomaterial that would revalue the food waste generated in homes. The approach of the project is circular, since once the life cycle of the bag is over, it can be composted in the field. Thanks to this concept and by disseminating it in local newspapers and television programs, more people have been reached and made aware of the need to seek sustainable alternatives. In this project, borage has been used as the main element of the biomaterial since it is a very typical food of the area, which is an example of saving transportation costs and promoting local trade, as well as an exaltation of a typical product. of Aragon and its culture. The manufacturing methods used are sustainable, since the waste generated in the laser cut can be composted or used again as part of the bioplastic recipe.

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the concept can be exemplary in this context.
Regarding the aesthetics of the product, the simplicity of classic designs has been sought, such as the mesh bag used to transport fruit. Thus, values belonging to agriculture and traditional purchase continue to be reinforced. The design of the cuts was carried out using a parametric model that allows to vary the dimensions, location and quantity of cuts that are going to be made to the sheet, so it is a model capable of being configured according to the properties of the products that are going to be carried in the bag. Specifically, the final design was designed to be able to transport borage and thus reinforce the idea of a circular economy. Gracias al grabado láser se pueden indicar las características del producto transportado o de la bolsa sin necesidad de usar adhesivos o elementos extras.

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the concept can be exemplary in this context.
The biomaterial manufacturing process is very similar to cooking a recipe, so the vast majority of people can do it at home. Being composed of agricultural residues, no expense is required in terms of raw material. The design of the bag allows it to be easy to use, offering a good grip on the handles and comfort when transporting products. The recycling process is simple so that everyone can do it, it is only necessary to deposit it on the ground to compost it.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the concept and civil society have been / will be involved in the concept and what has been / will be the impact of this involvement on the concept.
The revaluation of waste represents an improvement in terms of the way of disposing of the waste that exists today. People can produce their own biomaterials at home to produce their own products. This supposes a use of the available resources, without generating more spending or consumption.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and development of the concept. Please highlight what the added value of their engagement was
The town's farmers offered to store and contribute the waste they generated in the borage cleaning process. The commitment on the part of the agricultural cooperative to be able to use the waste they generate represents a very large source of material with which to generate a large amount of biomaterial. The local media echoed the project and disseminated it both in the written press and on television programs. This dissemination is very beneficial for the project, since one of its main objectives is to raise awareness among the population about the amount of waste generated in homes and to make them reflect on the sustainable alternatives that can be developed with it. On the other hand, there have been people interested in training on biomaterials, so workshops could be offered on the creation of biomaterials or even offer kits so that people can learn from their own homes.

Please explain which disciplines and / or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and development of your concept. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was
First, the problem of single-use plastic containers was detected, later creativity techniques were used to address the problem and see what solutions could be proposed. Next, the product to be developed was conceptualized and the manufacturing techniques to be used were specified. All this is part of product design and development methodologies, applying creativity and conceptualization techniques, as well as the use of CAD and parametric modeling programs, to later prototype that product by 3D printing and finally manufacture it by laser cutting.

Please explain the innovative character of your concept when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the concept.
Currently, the bags that are used to transport the purchase are usually made of plastic of fossil origin, the concept presented proposes a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic containers, since the bag manufactured is composed of a biomaterial of vegetable origin and that at the end of the life cycle of the product it can be composted. Its aesthetic is also different from current bags, returning to a vintage design reminiscent of classic mesh bags.

Please which elements of your concept could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and contexts. This may involve, for example, aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings, etc.
The process of preparing the material is very simple, anyone can do it in their kitchen at home. The project aims to motivate people to explore with the food waste that is generated at home, so you can play at making a biomaterial with whatever waste it is, it is not necessary that it be borage. For example, biomaterials could be made with typical waste from local areas, such as mussel shells in coastal areas. It is not necessary to have specific machines to manufacture the bag, manufacturing by laser cutting can be replaced by manual production, despite being more expensive and less precise, a similar result could probably be achieved.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the concept addresses by providing local solutions
This project focuses on proposing sustainable alternatives through the development of biomaterials based on local waste. If people from different locations empathize with the project and dare to generate their own biomaterials with which to make products, this would mean a new way of tackling the problem of food waste. In addition, single-use plastic containers could be replaced, which are very harmful since more than 70% of single-use plastic ends up in the environment.

Please attach the development plan of your concept. This plan should detail the plans you have for the further development and implementation of your concept, with a particular attention to the steps envisaged in the year following the application. The plan should also include envisaged results and benefits from the concept for direct and indirect beneficiaries. The results and benefits should be specified in relation to the objectives of the concept, and to what is expected in the context of the respective category

DevelopmentPlan.pdf
Please attach at least one high resolution image or visual representation of your concept to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below
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By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

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Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed concept has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the concept, initiative, and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary.
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their concepts, concepts, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted concept, concept is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes