03
sketches
03
sketches
MediSafe is a circular delivery system and an online pharmacy. It is created to eliminate the idea of waste by transforming the products and packaging of medical products from single-use to durable, multi-use, feature-packed designs. This is a step towards making the pharmaceutical industry environment friendly and transferring from a linear model to a circular model.
How might we apply the concept of the circular economy to make the Pharmaceutical Industry more eco-friendly?
Project Brief
Through thorough research find a potential opportunity for circular economy. Apply the concept and generate 3D prototypes for your solution.
Time Period: 2 Weeks
Problem
Excess amounts of waste generated in the pharmaceutical industry.
Highlights
Circular Economy
Research
Ideation
CAD
Prototyping
3D Printing
Why the pharmaceutical industry?
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The pharmaceutical plastic bottles market was valued at USD 7.34 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 9.31 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 4.11%, during the forecast period of 2019 - 2024.
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Federal Survey Finds 119 Million Americans Use Prescription Drugs
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Their presence has been detected in water supplies through sources such as human excretion and improper disposal of drugs. They affect natural ecosystems and pose a threat to living organisms.
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Every year in Canada, 250 million prescriptions are filled and dispensed in packaging that is not eco-friendly. More than 6,000 tons of plastic and carton waste in recycling bins can be fully attributed to the disposal of prescription packaging. Plastic pollution in pharmacy is tremendous. Like all single-use packaging, the problem with prescription packaging must be addressed quickly and effectively. The recyclability of items is no longer a sustainable solution considering 270,000 tons of plastic that are entirely recyclable ends up in the ocean. We must consider and reflect on the entire life cycle of a product and not concentrate only on end-of-life management.
"The Pharmaceutical industry is responsible for responding to the many of the most dangerous effects of pollution and climate change, and yet it is a significant source of greenhouse gases and other deadly environmental emissions itself,”
Present Linear structure
Manufacturing
Distribution
Consumption
Discarded
Landfill
What is Circular economy?
Looking beyond the current take make -make-waste extractive industrial model, a circular economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. It is based on three principles:
Benefits of circular economy
Reducing pressure on the enviornment
Helps reduce greenhouse gas emission
Waste prevention
Improving the security of the supply of raw materials
Increasing competitiveness
Stimulating innovation
Economic growth
Design Opportunities
Target User
People who are on prescribed medication and consume medicines on a daily basis
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Design Solution
The new circular structure
Clean and Refill
Return
Receive
Order
Shop your prescribed medicines, now reimagined to be waste free and exclusively available through MediSafe.
Receive your durable products in our exclusively designed Medisafe kit, a breakthrough zero-waste delivery system that eliminates disposable, single-use shipping materials.
Now you don't have to throw your packaging to Landfill or even clean - as you finish Medicine, simply place your used products back into the MediSafe kit and schedule a free pick up from your home.
MediSafe's state-of-the-art cleaning technology hygienically cleans the empty packages you send back so that they can be reused without any hassle.
Consume
Now take your prescribed medicine redesigned with innovative new packaging and unparalleled materials. Designing for reuse.
Designed for circularity
All the packaging is designed keeping the circular economy in mind. So that it can be reused and recycled.
The MediSafe kit
Medicine arrives in the MediSafe kit. Every Kit is designed to be:
Durable
Each container must be made of durable material that is resilient enough to be reused for at least ten use cycles, including a full journey through production, shipping, use, and cleaning
Compact
The MediSafe Kit is designed to fit anywhere. Whether its your cupboard or any small space to your life, and to your tiny cupboard. Now you can store your medicines hassle free.
Portable
MediSafe kit has an ergonomic design so that it can be carried around easily without any hassle. MediSafe makes carrying your daily medicines easier than ever.
Safe
Your MediSafe Kit has a lock on it side to ensure full safety of the products inside. The kit is sealed every time it is shipped so that you know you are the first one to open it . After removing the seal you can use the inbuilt lock on the side to ensure safety.
DESIGN PROCESS
Market Research
Ideation
Prototyping
Final Concept
Market Research
Before I started designing the kit I looked at the ones that already exist and I felt like they were very bulky and difficult to store.
Sketches
I started sketching some ideas for the design of the MediSafe kit. I wanted to create something sleak that one can store anywhere and also keeps the medicines safe.
Prototyping
To create a prototype of the kit I made a CAD model using Solidworks and 3D printed different sections of a scale model and then using epoxy glued them together to complete the box.
Reflection
This was my first experience learning about cicular economy and the healthcare field. It was an educational experience that allowed me to reimagine the pharmaceutical industry. This project not only allowed me to learn something new but also challenged me as a thinker and a designer. As next steps for the project I would like to design different sized kits for different products, design different packaging ideas for Medicines, perform Life Cycle Analysis, Study cleaning procedures and sterilization measures post usage.
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