Fierce Flosser | Jasmine Joaquin

Fierce

Project Attributes

Cradle to Cradle®

Recyclable Materials

Biodegradable Materials

Ergonomic

The Process

THE PROJECT

Students were instructed to design a product using the Cradle to Cradle® method.

RESEARCH
Through research, it was determined that traditional dental floss, composed of nylon and petrochemicals and packaged in non-recyclable materials, poses a significant environmental challenge. A large amount of floss is used for dental hygiene, generating many small floss fibres that are not compostable or recyclable and can harm marine ecosystems.

IDEATION

I realized that disposable flossing picks are probably the worst form of floss for the environment because they produce the most waste. I thought that it would be good to make these picks reusable, and just have the string be disposable. I developed sketches of my concept and how it would work.

MATERIAL RESEARCH

I researched the best materials to make the flosser from so that it was Cradle to Cradle®. I chose to make the main body of the flosser from aluminum since it is highly recyclable, and to make the floss from bamboo fibre since it is rapidly renewable and compostable. I also selected additional biodegradable materials to make the packaging; such as paper, gelatin, and black walnuts.

PROTOTYPING & REFINEMENT

I made a small sketch model to ensure that the flosser fit comfortably and was easy to maneuver in the mouth. Once the design was finalized, I modelled it in SolidWorks and also built a refined prototype of the model that looked like it was made from aluminum.

TAKEAWAYS

This was my first time designing a Cradle to Cradle® product. Through the process, I learned what it means for a product to be Cradle to Cradle®. I also learned that it is easiest to design a Cradle to Cradle® product when it uses minimal materials and the materials can easily be separated before disposal.