Startup DiFOLD creating an award-winning reusable and recyclable water bottle
Established in 2018, the sustainably-focused startup DiFOLD has been assigned to make foldable reusable products to lower packaging waste’s environmental impact. The startup selected DSM Engineering Material’s Arnitel® Eco – a bio-based thermoplastic copolyester – for its flagship Origami water bottle.
In 2022, the collapsible design technology water bottle triumphed at the German Sustainability Award (GSA) Design.
collapsible design technology
Designed to substitute single-use plastic bottles and created by DSM Engineering Materials’ Arnitel® Eco, DiFOLD’s Origami Bottle is elegant, sturdy, long-lasting, and sustainable.
Arnitel Eco is a bio-based thermoplastic copolyester (TPE) with high performance and low environmental impact. The plant-based material is partially produced from rapeseed oil, which lowers the materials’ Cradle-To-Gate CO2 emissions, having a carbon footprint decrease of up to 50% compared to conventional copolyesters.
Working well with the startup’s sustainability strategy to minimize the influence of packaging on the environment by creating reusable bottles, Arnitel® Eco can be recycled. This is important in supporting DiFOLD in meeting its goal of developing a closed-loop recycling system for its products.
Bring refillable products to the masses
Established in 2018 by Radina Popova and Petar Zaharinov, DiFOLD holds a utility patent for its collapsible design technology. It has geometric pattern models allowing tubular volumes to evolve flat, settling less than 10% of their initial volume while giving superior stability when unfolded.
Describing one of these designs, the Origami Bottle is the first step of DiFOLD’s mission—to extend reuse and pave the path for other foldable outcomes. For future developments, DiFOLD plans to present them on a larger scale as refillable foldable containers for a zero-waste solution.
“Everyone understands single-use plastic trash is a big issue, and packaging is a big supporter of this issue,” explains Popova. “We noticed the possibility of creating reusable, collapsible bottles and other foldable containers for reuse. When getting refillable products to the masses, they should be suitable for end users to adopt at scale and efficient for reverse logistics in deposit schemes.
It is light, easy to fold and carry when empty, creating the reuse experience of refilling water fun and hassle-free.”
A bio-based recyclable material – DiFOLD Bottle
Circularity and durability were a must when finding the proper material answer for the bottle.
“We enjoyed a biobased material that can be recycled, along with suitable mechanical properties needed for the folding design,” explains Zaharinov. “We also needed a material that can withstand hot liquids. We tried the material in a lab at 100°C, which executed well. Not to mention, Arnitel® Eco doesn’t absorb the odors or tastes of liquids.”
Besides providing Arnitel® Eco to DiFOLD, DSM Engineering Materials delivered DiFOLD with sustainability, technical and regulatory services.
