Keurig and its equivalents are so convenient it is hard to conceive of going back to something less handy, but important to find something that produces less waste, hence this minimalist solution using sugar-based containers that dissolve when used.

The Droops Coffee Maker system is centered around pods that melt away when exposed to hot water, visually inspired by variously-shaped colorful candies from their creator’s childhood.

The device itself is a modular stackable system involving a heating unit and water container which, when joined, form a circuit and allow you to brew your coffee.

“Droops coffee maker identifies the issue of unnecessary packaging waste cause by the massive consumption of coffee. Therefore, by reinventing the packaging as the content of the coffee, the packaging will be part of the coffee upon consumption.”

The post Dissolving Pods: Design Solves Disposable Plastic Problem first appeared on Gajitz.

As our society trends more and more toward disposable gadgets (like throwaway cell phones and disposable cameras), some people are thinking ahead to what else could be made for short-term use. Designer Je Sung Park’s disposable laptop concept takes the throwaway trend to a whole new level: one where a computer, a gadget storing some of our most personal data, becomes even more transitory than the cheapest, flimsiest laptops of today.

Park’s concept features a casing made entirely of recycled and recyclable paper materials. Replacement casing parts would be sold so that you can change out damaged pieces (if you keep your disposable laptop that long). The interior electronic bits and screen would, of course, still be made of plastics and metals, so they would need to be separated before you can recycle the paper casing.

While this concept is far, far from being produced, it brings up some good questions: how disposable are we going to go? How willing would we be to toss away something as personal as a computer? And what kind of market would a product like this have? It may be useful for travelers who don’t want to pack their own personal laptops, students who can’t afford a traditional laptop, or people who can settle for the (presumably) reduced power of a less expensive computer. With flexible screens and ultra-thin keyboards already available, it’s only a matter of time before the technology required for this product will actually be feasible.

The post Trashy Tech: Disposable, Recyclable Paper Laptop Concept first appeared on Gajitz.