In our project, the product is not defined jet, but we use a lamp as an example.
The project as it is suppose to be is shown right at the top. Bottles are collected and turned into wire, the weavers manipulate the material, it can be turned into a desirable product (for example a lamp) and these can be sold so a profitable business can be created.
A situation were the product does contribute to economic independency, but is not sustainable is shown in at the right bottom.
- Along the the lamp a lot of waste a lot of plastic packaging and thereby waste is created.
Sell the lamp, without packaging, or an alternative, that is sustainable.
- The lamp uses a lot of energy.
Use solar energy and make use of CFLs.
- A lot of transport is needed so there is a lot of CO2 emission.
Produce and sell close to each other, make minimum use of transport.
- The proces is not sustainable
Use sustainable materials and tools
Use local materials and tools
- Buy bottles at the supermarket and turn those into a lamp.
Make sure the amount of money people get for the bottles is less than they have to pay in the supermarket.
The worst situation, in which our project has mostly failed, is when the product is not contributing to economic independency and is not sustainable. This can be caused by the following problems:
- The product is not selling and ends up as waste completely
Make products that can be demounted easily.
- Caused by a lack of knowledge diversion, the weavers are not able to make the products themselves.
Create a programme that can be continued without help.
Make knowledge easy transferable.
- The product created is not interesting and desired
Provide a market research
Do not develope the product isolated, keep checking with the target group if the product is heading in the right direction.
The case of a sustainable product and project but no economic independency is created is shown in the top left corner.
- The product can not be sold.
Provide a market research
- The project is dependent of gifts
Work with a business plan from the start.
- The knowledge of how to sell the products is missing
Make sure there is a educated person responsible for selling the product
- When the plastic bottles are used up.
This would be great! A new project can be started, to offer economic dependence.