Bhavika Malik - FAH Global Challenge 3rd Prize Winner

90% of the medical waste produced in the world is through one time use products. The sustainability goal number 11 looks towards creating sustainable cities and communities by reducing waste and making use of green alternatives. Here, my challenge was to redesign one such medical instrument which is currently contributing to urban waste.

The instrument I selected to work on is a dental saliva ejector. Dentists have to throw it after a single use itself as a part of infection control protocol. Following the bio mimicry process and after tremendous research on animal structures, an effective solution is found. The final product is the saliva ejector which is inspired by a seahorse, whose tail structure forms the basis of product development. The ejector is now reusable as the change in material allows it to be sterilized. It does not compromise on the flexibility factor, grip factor and durability factor as seen in the original product.

There will no more be onetime use equipment, reducing medical waste, saving money and reducing carbon footprints in urban societies. This is one step toward creating sustainable products for communities by reducing waste in the medical field.

The project is “A step towards creating a sustainable community by reducing waste in the medical field.” This entire project was working towards the very goal of sustainable solutions, specifically in the medical field which produces tremendous amount of untreatable waste every day. Till the time we student designers will be out working in the industry, the most important factor will be the sustainability of any product that we create. As the upcoming designers and product creators, the responsibility of reducing carbon footprints on the planet fall upon us, and this is indeed a huge responsibility.