Designing a more sustainable camping experience that reduces environmental impact while enhancing outdoor enjoyment
The Problem
Primary research we conducted in the Ravensdale forest showed us that people who camp in the forest leave waste such as glass bottles, disposable barbecues and food packaging. Interviews we conducted with individuals who regularly visit the forest for recreational activities also complained about how they have seen people leave their waste after camping.
Grace was one of the hikers we spoke to, she mentioned how walking in the forest made her feel and how litter has affected her walks.
"It would affect your energy levels, and mood" Not walking
the forest for a couple days"
"It's stimulating in so many different ways"
“Went for a walk in a nearby woods yesterday which gets occasional campers. One group went to the bother of packing all their rubbish cans etc.. in to black sacks (3) but left the there in the woods, who do they think is going to collect their trash? Its not a managed camp site. Out of 4 sites I came across only one had tided up properly”
We encountered other hikers who shared their frustrations both in person and on various online forums:
"On occasion that has been left, not all of it has been removed"
"Mental, I decided to go off the usual tracks I walk on today and stumbled into the 90s/00s. There were loads more stuff there from around the same time, mad how long plastic survives"
The Proposal
BioLite proposes a solution for campers who might not have the primary focus on sustainable practices while engaging in a natural setting. It offers a space to enjoy everything you would already engage in while out camping while being a part of a bio-regenerative process and leave no trace program.
Initial Concepts
BioLite Barbeque
The BioLite barbecue is a large, fordable barbecue designed to meet any cooking requirements. Unlike the disposable barbecues commonly used when camping the BioLite barbecue is reusable. Its burned potash is repurposed as fertiliser collected by Coillte representatives helping with a bio-regenerative process.
Features:
• Retractable doors
• Retractable legs
• Steel framework
• Weatherproof
• Solar powered
• Retractable legs
• Steel framework
• Weatherproof
• Solar powered
Mobile App
The BioLite mobile app is a IOS and Android compatible application to inform the user on how to interact with the BioLite dispenser, show available camp sights nearby, optional durations and the step by step process of how to set up and leave your camp sight while complying to the leave no trace program.
App Flow
BioLite Dispenser
The BioLite Dispenser is a vending machine that dispenses the required tools and equipment necessary for the user experience to take place. It is equipped with 21 doors divided into 7 rows of 3 lockers. The first locker contains the willow warm burning blocks, the middle locker contains the folded necessary cooking and cleaning equipment and the final locker contains the BioLite Barbecue. The space behind the dispenser is designated for bins where litter can be easily disposed of
Benefits include:
• Encourages leave-no-trace practices
• Alleviates waste being left behind by campers
• Re-purposes of potash for sustainable practice
• Increases previous commonly used barbeque life cycle
• Engages community interaction
• Educational focus on how to interact with the natural environment
• Alleviates waste being left behind by campers
• Re-purposes of potash for sustainable practice
• Increases previous commonly used barbeque life cycle
• Engages community interaction
• Educational focus on how to interact with the natural environment
