The second Circular Design internship started on February 9th at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Campus Vilanova i la Geltrú with 10 students from Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden and Spain. Interns and partners have been welcomed with an informative session about Learning for Innovative Design for Sustainability Erasmus+ research project presented by the principal investigator, Jordi Segalas and the results of the first internship projects, ONE-OFF and Mamukko, that took place at University of Limerick, Ireland, have been showcased by UPC students, Kristina Ivanova and Ainur Ulan.
In addition, three project briefs per each group of interns have been assigned:
Project 1. Waste management in municipalities with user identification technologies.
It is becoming more obvious that synergies between waste management and circular economy can attribute to the ideal of achieving a world with a responsible attitude to production and consumption. However, there are many challenges to be handled. Your theme is waste management in municipalities. Throughout this internship you are expected to increase the knowledge about technologies for user identification in containers in high-density contexts, to reduce anonymity and get better results of municipal waste separate collection to give compliment to the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, and other national and regional targets.
Client: ENT, environment and management consultancy
Interns: Biel Bulbena (UPC), Marie Salova (UL), Diana Saleh (LiU), Thomas Loderus (NHL)
Project 2. Selective separation of waste in the workplace.
The challenge is to create a solution that facilitates the selective separation of waste in the workplace, temporary storage and transfer to the nearest selective collection point. This solution will be part of a real change project that is being implemented at the UPC and which consists of redesigning the current selective collection service within the buildings of the UPC through the implementation of centralized points of selective collection (Recircula UPC points) and the reduction of the emptying service of the individual refuse bin by the cleaning service. The change of model implies moving from an unsustainable solution and with individual logic to a more sustainable and community approach. The new approach requires the collaboration and change of habits of the users, since to get rid of a waste it must be moved to the nearest Recircula UPC Point. Likewise, it raises the opportunity to redefine the function of the individual reject bin to adapt it to the new objectives or to create an alternative system to facilitate the user to change habits.
Client: UPC Recircula, a project that promotes the circular economy in the use, purchase and responsible management of resources and waste of Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.
Interns: Daniel Gabarrón (UPC), Christopher Barrett (UL) and Roelf Holtrop (NHL)
Project 3. Material innovation for urban application.
Cities are alive and continuously are demanding new solutions to become much more liveable. Accessibility, mobility and safety in traffic are key aspects of citizens’ daily life in cities. In ZICLA, we focus on developing solutions for traffic, mobility, accessibility and the enjoyment of cities, all entirely committed to the circular economy based on making use of waste generated by cities themselves and their associated activities: industries, services, etc. Throughout this internship, students are expected to explore the potentials of reclaimed material coming from post consumed Tetra Pak packaging generated by paper mills after the recovery of the cellulose, and come up with innovative solutions on using them in new pavements to be used in different urban applications.
Client: ZICLA, a company that innovates with recycled products and with the management of residues.
Interns: Sandra Cózar (UPC), Emma Jarvis (UL) and Joachim Neguembor (LiU).
The students took part in the internship up to June 20.
