BIO-CUBE: PLASTIC UPCYCLING SOLUTION

On average, one million plastic bottles are bought by consumers around the world. A staggering ~ 80% of these bottles are not recycled. The growing landscape of plastic mountains is suffocating environmental and societal ecosystems at unprecedented rates with no end on the horizon.

Government and non-profit efforts are leading a shift in cultural approach to the global health crisis with a call to action for businesses and citizens a like to be mindful and conservative in using single-use plastics. Industry responses have seen a spike in the upcycling of plastic born materials that have been repurposed into various apparel, footwear, and load supporting objects. The direct correlation between increasing brand value and repurposing has created a positive narrative trend that, not only raises awareness over social media mediums but, as well is working to permanently shift the narrative around plastic usage. This has opened the doors for more funding to be distributed from small ventures to larger ones that are hopeful to attack the epidemic from all angles. Alhassan Baba Muniru, is a graduate student from Ghana studying in Berlin, Germany who is working with government and nonprofit entities to start a recycling hub for his local community back home. Al, has seen the impact that plastic pollution has had on his nation first hand, and has been researching the effects and limitations of plastic upcycling through his work in constructing with reused-plastic based schools and eco-homes. Other motivated entrepreneurs around the world are working to start their own ventures to have similar impacts in their own communities. However, a common limiting factor in many stories is the lack of awareness and the initial funding hurdle that must be overcome.   
All considered, the accumulated mass of free-floating plastic around the globe has especially had notable impacts on developing nations that readily engage in the usage of single-use plastics. The south-east Asian region is the most significantly impacted, as 17.34 metric tons of annually generated plastic waste is occupying coastlines and domestic regions of the territory. Federal organizations are seeking solutions to mitigate the situation with motivated youths creating start up solutions to modify up-cycling industrial processes to fit the direct needs of their communities

Bio-Cube's solution is to develop a small scale, structural block manufacturing device. This device will boast a low energy requirement and naturally heated system to increase the potential reach and impact to fit nearly any community’s needs. Bio-Cube’s solution uses age-old proven technology to compress shredded plastic into a set mold. The system output allows for an elastic application up to the discretion of the user by creating small cubes that can be joined together using simple mechanical junctions. This flexibility in application allows for a Lego like design in respect to the user being able to create a myriad of different final products. Bio-Cube hopes to maintain this flexible application as it gives power and value towards the user’s design intent. 

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