Bloom laptop design offers easy disassembling, efficient e-recycling

Bloom Laptop, created by a Stanford group addresses the problems of recycling the e-waste that is generated in mounds by conventional laptops. Generally, laptops do not lend themselves well to recycling, or even disassembly. Bloom Laptop design handles this problem very efficiently, being very easy to disassemble. The same property of the laptop also lends it well towards upgrading by the consumers. Individual components can easily be removed, upgraded and repaired without having to buy a new device when major upgrades are required.

Via: Autodesk, Core77

Electrolux makes Vacs from ocean waste

In summer this year, Electrolux had announced that it will make vacuum cleaners from plastic waste in the ocean. This would be the company’s attempt to raise awareness about the huge swathes of plastic waste floating around in our oceans. Staying true to its word, Electrolux has released a series of five vacs, all with exteriors made from plastic waste in the oceans, and each representing a specific water body.

Incredible recycled paper art looks like metallic sculptures

Sculptures from artist Shawn Agosta aren’t just amazing in looks, they’re equally intersting by way of construction as well. The sculptor from Bainbridge Island, Washington uses powdered newspaper for his sculptures. He mixes ground-up newspapers with a special adhesive to create a clay-like substance. Once completed and dried, the sculptures take on the appearance as if they’d been made of stone or metal. Some steel or wood is used for armature, but the majority of the work is done using those ground-up newspapers.

Via: Environmental Graffiti

Artist makes furniture out of sea mines

It seems like we’re hot on the topic of environment today. We do like recycling and recycling something as sinister as weapons into usable furniture gets an applause from us by default. Sculptor Mati Karmin uses Russian AGSB-type sea mines found off the coast to create furniture like desks, fireplaces, lamps, toilets and the like. The job obviously isn’t an easy one, the results though, are amazing.

Via: Cubiclebot

Oddbirds make lamps made from found tableware

Recycling/upcycling is a great idea, but when making lamps out of upcycled materials, the form and thought behind the design do overshadow the idea a bit. Thankfully, Swedish design collective Oddbirds have it all thought out. Their lamps are made from recycled, found or inherited tableware. The selection gives these lamps an old-world charm, plus a uniqueness. After all, it isn’t everyday that you come across lamps made from cups and plates.

Via: Inhabitat

Portraits made from junk

Artist Zac Freeman collects found objects and junk, and goes about the process of transforming them into portraits. Almost everything finds place in this art; buttons, wires, pen caps, tins, Lego minifigs, basically a lot of things. The portraits generally are 28″ x 35″ in size, so they admittedly don’t look that pretty up close, but from a distance, they look quite artistic.

Via: IfItsHipIt’sHere, TheAwesomer

Vintage frames get upcycled, now frame speakers

Saving vintage frames and taking speakers to where no speaker has gone before (at least to our knowledge) is what Rebaroque is doing. “Sound Frames” are speakers embedded into vintage picture frames, with a remnant or scrap fabric. The speakers are inspired by the Baroque style. The speakers are functional and can be attached to a computer or portable music player, they can even be modified to dock phones or play music via Bluetooth.

Via: Inhabitat