scraplab2

We propose the development of an upcycling demonstration and engagement facility (named Scrap Lab 2), fully equipped with toolkits, manuals, and spare parts for conducting workshops of EEE reuse anywhere.

Our proposal focuses on two key aspects of urgency for upcycling upscaling: 1) producing inspirational media and qualified information, and 2) making the workshop facilities more friendly and inclusive for a wider range of people.

The activities are:
• Scrap Lab 2: development of a mobile unit (Trailer) for itinerant upcycling interventions (workshops).
• Development of Toolkit -Sketches, Manuals, and video tutorials- for 10-12 replicable upcycling projects with EEE.
• Interventions (workshops) in public: Two demonstrative events with the mobile unit and toolkits for the participants.

This proposal is based on our experience conducting workshops, and on the fact that recently we get our first vehicle (a VW Kombi) and we want to gear it up properly. The most important inspiration for this idea is Patagonia’s Worn Wear Repair Truck & Facility, which makes something equivalent with clothes.

Our long-term objective is to decrease cost and improve the efficiency of waste collection and processing services, in three ways: i) Shape EEE demand in a transitional and participative manner, ii) Make the case for increased investments in repair and reuse profitable and sustainable facilities, and iii) Development of eco-designed upcycled products with Creative Commons license.

Products/ outputs/ services

The project will deliver (between May – September):
Product 1: Toolkit of 10-12 EEE projects.
Product 2: Functional mobile unit (trailer)
Product 3: Conduction and documentation of 2 Online events for sharing and divulgation
Product 4: Conduction and documentation of 2 In-person free Workshops, with the functional Scrap Lab.

Within the Product 4 development, we plan to offer the services:
Service 1: Fabrication of upcycling lamps and other upcycled EEEs
Service 2: EEE Collection service

Another important output is the measurement of results with Life Cycle Analysis methodologies. It will be the starting point of broader proposals of mobile and fixed facilities.

Expected social, environmental and economic impacts

Socioeconomic
- Income (sales of products and remuneration for working hours)
- Technically trained people (in-person and virtually)
- Development of a public base of knowledge (manuals and courses) to promote self-sufficiency and cause prosperity.
- Strengthen of "prosumers"
- Labour definitions are based on the Bem Viver framework, where individuals act in the desired vocation, with full recognition of its capacities and engagement.

Environmental
- GHG Emissions reduction
- Waste reduction

Public Policy
- Work towards citizenship with access to repair and reuse facilities
- Improve the efficiency of sorting and recycling heavy/precious metals and semiconductors.

We use a novel methodology that integrates practices as bricolage, tinkering and technical capabilities that anyone can learn. From that, we propose innovative rules of thumb for reuse also the legacy practices, not just the hardware.
We provide a complete assessment of technical, economic, and environmental aspects of the upcycling projects proposed.
Integration of concepts of EEE repair, industrial mechanics, lighting and sound appliances with energy and resource efficiency.
Use of simple, popular infrastructure to attend a complex problem.
Full integration of upcycling with society needs and urgencies as: efficient lighting appliances, efficient ventilation appliances, infrastructure for urban farming, household recycling systems, among others.

We aim to work on two fronts: 1) documentation and content creation of EEE upcycled projects (10 to 12), and 2) construction and setup of the mobile unit. At the end of the project, we desire to conduct at least two public workshops.

Schedule
May:
1) Photo-shoots, writing, and illustrations for the manuals
2) Detailed engineering project and materials procurement
June:
1) Photo-shoots, writing, and illustrations for the manuals
2) Construction and tests of the steel frame structure
Jule:
1) Edition and publication of manuals on our website and social media, CC licensed
2) Construction and tests of the envelope
August:
1) Sharing of manuals and invitations for the workshops
2) Construction and tests of shelves, electrical installation, and accessories. Equipment of the trailer with tools and materials.
September:
Conduction of two public upcycling workshops.

Milestones
- First round trip of the trailer in São Paulo streets
- Publication of 10-12 product manuals

Challenges
- Short readiness time

Risks
Documentation (license) issues

Risk-mitigation measures
We are already working on an alternative for the operation of the Scrap lab in case the trailer could not be built or licensed. The alternative is to have all the required tools and materials inside our Kombi.

The mobile unit allows to demonstrate the principles and benefits of EEE upcycling and build capacity for this kind of initiative, so it is itself a replication strategy.
The products we propose are based on replicable EEEs present around the world, for example, VHS and cassette tapes and players; internet routers, fans, electric showers, sound systems, lamps, blenders, computers, televisions.
We plan to make it with the most popular work vehicle in Brazil, and one of the most common ways of making a small business replicable: the trailers. It has a cultural objective, for gaining confidence and empathy, not rejection.
Most of the group are Colombians living in Brazil for study and work reasons. We have found ourselves in this common language of upcycling. It makes that a natural continuation of our initiative can be to bring it back to Colombia.
We already have basic projects of different scales of workshops to be implemented according to the context.