Dual: A Revolutionary Approach to Reducing Plastic Waste

Yi Teng Shih and Jiani Zeng's Innovative Soap Design Wins Golden A' Packaging Design Award

The inspiration behind Dual lies in the often overlooked plastic packaging discarded after the liquid inside is used up. The designers noticed that many people are reluctant to refill hand wash bottles due to the inconvenience of storing replacement packs. Dual addresses this issue by using the packaging itself as a hand wash, eliminating the need for plastic bottles altogether.

Dual's unique properties lie in its dual-function design. The liquid soap is encased in a solid soap packaging. Once the liquid soap is used up, the user can remove the paper wrapping and use the solid soap as hand wash. The only component left is the dispenser pump, which can be reused with other Dual soap replacements. The solid soap is made with a high density to ensure it doesn't crumble when pressing the pump.

The creation of Dual involves a careful selection of soap ingredients including olive and coconut oil, goat milk, lavender, and sodium hydroxide for the solid soap, and olive and coconut oil, potassium hydroxide, and borax for the liquid soap. The design specifications are a width of 65 mm, depth of 45 mm, and height of 130mm.

The project, which began in October 2016 in Hangzhou, was based on research into fast-moving consumer goods, which generate about 75% of municipal solid waste. The designers sought to apply circular design principles to make more efficient use of materials and create more value through cost savings and new or expanded markets.

Despite the challenges of breaking away from the linear economic model, where raw materials are converted into products that are eventually discarded as waste, Dual represents a step towards a more sustainable pattern of consumption. The design has been recognized with a Golden A' Packaging Design Award in 2017, a testament to its innovative and trendsetting nature.

With Dual, Yi Teng Shih and Jiani Zeng have not only created a product that is practical and environmentally friendly, but also one that challenges conventional thinking about product design and waste. It is a shining example of how design can be used to address pressing environmental issues and create a more sustainable future.