Month: May 2025

The project explores Urban Mycelium Farms, utilizing fungi and mycelium to upcycle waste and foster urban symbiosis. By integrating sustainable farming into city centers, it promotes circular economies, healthier environments, and stronger, participative communities.

Define the problem/need you are solving or addressing with your project. How does it address the Open Call criteria, such as environmental impact, social engagement, circularity, user experience, resource efficiency, and community-driven solutions?

This project addresses the upcycling of city waste resources, the adaptation of urban voids, and the promotion of participative multi-stakeholder dynamics within neighborhoods through a biobased method: mycelium farming. The reuse of waste is essential; hence, an elaborate classification and management of resources becomes vital for success, tackling environmental issues while enhancing circularity within the production process. Importantly, the project involves local communities and diverse stakeholders, encouraging them to learn about the positive impacts this new initiative can bring and its potential for future development.

Please describe your project, reflecting on the concept, inspiration, materials, technical aspects, methods and process(es).

The project’s essence focuses on two main objectives: designing an educational urban mycelium farm suitable for an underutilized parking lot and establishing parameters for expanding and replicating these farms with various types and objectives. With the rise of bio-based innovations, mycelium emerges as a material with vast applications, including food sovereignty, medicine, construction materials, and packaging. Therefore, it is critical to identify and design suitable locations for its production. Despite being a relatively recent material, multiple companies and patents are already working with mycelium, showcasing its potential for large-scale production and the opportunities it creates for community development.

What do you think makes your project innovative compared to the existing efforts and ideas in the field it addresses?

Three key aspects distinguish our project from others. First, we aim to develop an evidence-based urban analysis system to determine optimal locations for mycelium urban farms. We will map urban voids, restaurants, and cafés for collecting organic waste necessary for cultivation, employing Space Syntax tools for pedestrian analysis to pinpoint potential hotspots. Second, we propose that these farms serve various applications based on their location, including food production, construction materials, and environmental education. Finally, repurposing urban voids is central to the project, revitalizing abandoned or underused spaces while reimagining public areas to benefit local communities.

Does it impact or reflect young people need(s) and how?

Engaging young people is vital since community development and social integration are central to the project. Involving younger populations through educational and employment opportunities is a key goal. Mycelium farms can catalyze local economic activity, creating new jobs while enhancing environmental awareness. Beyond fostering a bio-based economic impact, these farms aim to inspire a cultural shift, bringing individuals of all ages closer to sustainable practices that connect them with nature. Through job opportunities, workshops, guided tours, seasonal events, and awareness campaigns, urban mycelium farms offer a fresh approach to urban farming, enabling young people to actively participate in transforming their environments and instilling a sense of responsibility for the future of their communities.

We aim to design a storage, refrigeration, and transport device that maintains the temperature and humidity conditions required for medications and rapid tests in extreme weather conditions.

Define the problem/need you are solving or addressing with your project. How does it address the Open Call criteria, such as environmental impact, social engagement, circularity, user experience, resource efficiency, and community-driven solutions?

Our project was born in response to the humanitarian crisis affecting countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Panama, India, and South Sudan. Nowadays, thousands of essential medical products must be discarded due to extreme climatic conditions and lack of resources, which lead to the deterioration of their properties and prevent their proper use. The goal of the partnership between our engineering team and MSF is to develop a modular storage device that keeps essential medical products within a temperature range of 15°C to 25°C and a humidity of less than 60%, preventing their deterioration. Our solution reflects Open Call’s theme of aid-focused innovation because our product would be used in these scenarios where ONGs work. We have interviewed real users in each of the countries to cater directly to their needs.

Please describe your project, reflecting on the concept, inspiration, materials, technical aspects, methods and process(es).

Our solution consists of 4 essential components that work together to ensure optimal performance.

1. The cooling system is the core of the device, designed to maintain a stable temperature for as long as possible, optimizing energy consumption. It uses thermoelectric cooling and is powered by solar energy.

2. The outer case encloses and protects the cooling module, ensuring efficient thermal insulation, impact resistance, and a design adapted for easy transportation.

3. The interior architecture is designed to store up to 30 liters of medical products, maximizing thermal efficiency through the integration of phase change materials (PCM), which extend cooling duration and reduce energy demand.

4. Finally, the connection system is responsible for monitoring and precise temperature control, providing real-time data and alerts in case of fluctuations to ensure the safety and stability of stored medications.

What do you think makes your project innovative compared to the existing efforts and ideas in the field it addresses?

We, as Trustto team, develop this project for humanitarian emergency contexts, where the main goal is to improve people’s lives without any economic interest. Currently, medical-humanitarian organizations such as MSF don’t have solutions that maintain the temperature and humidity conditions in peripheral communities because there is no stable electrical source, and thus, the available products in the market, don’t meet their needs. We are focused on creating a solution that is tailored and solves every pain that the users have, by listening directly to their needs. Our product includes renewable energy, additive manufactoring and other innovative technologies. We will develop a high-performance product by combining design and engineering.**Does it impact or reflect young people’s need(s) and how (limit 150 words):** We want to share and give more visibility to the projects that ONGs are doing all over the world. Young people have shown that they are motivated to make an impact and improve the society in which we live in. Young people want to make a change and build more sustainable solutions, ensure that there are equal opportunities for everyone and everywhere.

A sustainable, circular, and social urban initiative designed for residents within buildings. The main goal is to reduce consumption in the community, promoting a circular economy and fostering a more sustainable environment in cities.  

The project aims to reduce unnecessary consumption by promoting the sharing of infrequently used products, fostering a cooperative economy. In a world driven by consumerism, this alternative approach encourages resource efficiency and minimizes waste. By creating community hubs within buildings, the project strengthens social engagement, fostering interaction and cooperation among residents. It also supports circularity by extending the lifespan of products through shared use, reducing the need for constant production and consumption. The initiative directly addresses environmental impact by lowering waste and promoting sustainable consumption.  

Please describe your project, reflecting on the concept, inspiration, materials, technical aspects, methods and process(es).

Share-it! is a social and environmental platform designed as an automated vending machine, enabling residents to share essential tools and strengthen community ties in large residential buildings. The project encourages a circular economy by reducing unnecessary consumption and promoting sustainability. Users can borrow tools like drills, projectors, tents, and bicycle pumps for time periods ranging from one hour to three days. The process is seamless—items are returned to the machine, similar to a library borrowing system, but fully automated. The machine’s structure is constructed from durable aluminum and iron, with a facade made of recycled light birch wood, reflecting a commitment to sustainable materials. The system is managed via a dedicated app, which ensures smooth operation and technical support. Share-it! fosters a sense of community while reducing individual spending and waste, offering a practical, eco-friendly solution to everyday needs.  

What do you think makes your project innovative compared to the existing efforts and ideas in the field it addresses?

What makes Share-it! innovative is its focus on individual residents—those who occasionally need tools but don’t want to purchase them for one-time use. It offers a fully automated, easy-to-use system located within residential buildings, making access quick and convenient. This localized approach not only reduces personal consumption but also promotes a circular economy by encouraging shared use of seldom-needed products. Its unique design allows for seamless borrowing and returning of items, creating a simple yet effective solution for reducing waste. Currently, no other project combines this level of accessibility, automation, and sustainability in a residential context, making Share-it! a truly novel concept in the field.  

Does it impact or reflect young people need(s) and how?

Share-it! directly addresses the needs of young people, especially those who may not have the financial resources to purchase expensive tools or equipment. It offers an affordable alternative, enabling students or young renters to borrow essential items without the high upfront cost. For instance, placing the machine in student dormitories provides easy access to tools and equipment that are rarely needed, promoting savings and convenience. This model supports the values of resource sharing and sustainability, which resonate with younger generations who are often more conscious of environmental and economic challenges. By offering a cost-effective, community-driven solution, Share-it! helps young people access what they need without the burden of unnecessary purchases. 

Piss Soap is a deviant and regenerative soap entirely made out of human activity wastes. Piss Soap challenges our understanding of the binary of dirtiness and cleanliness.

Define the problem/need you are solving or addressing with your project. How does it address the Open Call criteria, such as environmental impact, social engagement, circularity, user experience, resource efficiency, and community-driven solutions?

Piss Soap tackles the intersection of waste management, sustainability, and social engagement by transforming human activity wastes—urine, used cooking oil, and wood ashes—into a functional, eco-friendly product: soap. This project directly addresses environmental impact by repurposing nitrogen-rich urine, reducing water pollution and the carbon footprint of conventional soap production. It fosters circularity by highlighting how waste can re-enter the product life cycle in meaningful ways. Social engagement is core, as workshops and community events demystify the science behind the process, sparking conversations about taboo topics like bodily waste and sustainability. The project enhances user experience by offering a product that is both useful and thought-provoking. Resource efficiency is achieved by utilizing abundant, overlooked materials. Ultimately, Piss Soap builds a community-driven solution by inviting collaboration and participation, challenging perceptions of waste, and inspiring creative sustainability practices.

Please describe your project, reflecting on the concept, inspiration, materials, technical aspects, methods and process(es).

Piss Soap is an experimental project that reclaims human urine as a raw material for soap production, blending science, sustainability, and social commentary. Inspired by historical practices—where urine was once used for cleaning due to its ammonia content—the project challenges modern taboos around bodily waste. The process involves collecting urine, extracting ammonia through natural fermentation, and combining it with discarded cooking oils to create a safe, functional soap. Technically, it explores saponification using alternative alkalines, pushing the boundaries of material innovation. The project embraces circular design by transforming a waste product into something purposeful while encouraging public participation through workshops and open-source methods. By making the process transparent and interactive, Piss Soap sparks dialogue about resourcefulness, sustainability, and the hidden value in what society deems “waste,” blurring the lines between art, science, and environmental activism.

What do you think makes your project innovative compared to the existing efforts and ideas in the field it addresses?

Piss Soap stands out by redefining waste as a valuable resource, pushing the boundaries of sustainable design and public engagement. Unlike conventional eco-projects that often focus on recycling plastics or organic composting, this project innovates by harnessing human urine—an abundant yet stigmatized material—as a key ingredient in soap production. It reimagines ancient practices through a modern lens while regenerating wastes from the urban landscape. The project’s uniqueness lies not only in its material innovation but also in its radical universality and community involvement: through workshops, open-source recipes, and public discussions, Piss Soap turns an individual biological process into a collective, solution-oriented political act. By addressing both environmental impact and social taboos, it transforms sustainability from a passive practice into an interactive experience—challenging perceptions of hygiene, waste, and circularity in a bold, provocative, and deeply creative way.

Does it impact or reflect young people need(s) and how?

Piss Soap reflects young people’s needs by challenging norms and promoting self-expression through environmental practices. It resonates with those seeking authenticity and rebellion against traditional beauty standards. Young people today value individuality, eco-consciousness, and boldness—all of which Piss Soap embodies by turning an unexpected concept into a statement piece. It sparks conversation, encourages body positivity, and highlights the importance of sustainable, cruelty-free products. By pushing boundaries, Piss Soap empowers youth to embrace their quirks and question societal expectations.