Tea shops and cafes are central gathering places in Bahrain, where people from all walks of life come to socialise, discuss news and build relationships.
Gabriel Kay, a product design graduate, has brewed up a sustainable solution to the morning ‘cuppa’ with the invention of a repairable kettle that can be fixed with nothing more than a screwdriver. Mr Kay, whose ‘Osiris’ modular kettle takes its name from the Egyptian god of rebirth, has garnered acclaim for his innovative design. The interchangeable components mean that faulty parts can be easily swapped out by anyone with a modicum of DIY know-how, effectively extending the kettle’s lifespan and reducing e-waste.
Mr Kay’s creation is a timely intervention in the face of a burgeoning e-waste crisis. Reports indicate that global e-waste generation is outpacing recycling efforts by a staggering five to one. “There’s a lot of perfectly good electronics being sent to landfill,” he observed. “My goal was to instil confidence in people to undertake simple repairs. I believe there’s potential to gradually increase the complexity of repairs, but the key is to encourage people to embrace the idea of maintaining their own products.”
Last year the GDN reported that more than 100 million tonnes of waste is being produced annually in the GCC, it was revealed during a workshop aimed at equipping future generations with the knowledge to address the vital environmental issue.
The event, titled ‘The Status of Food Waste Management in West Asian Countries and Ways to Reduce Food Loss and Waste’ was organised by the Arabian Gulf University’s College of Graduate Science, in co-operation with the United Nations Environment Programme’s (Unep) West Asia office.
The United Nations estimates that the planet grapples with a staggering 62m tonnes of e-waste annually. Small domestic appliances, including toasters, microwaves and, of course, kettles, constitute a significant portion of this figure, with a dismal 12 per cent being recycled.
Mr Kay, from De Montfort University in the English city of Leicester, doesn’t mince words when it comes to the role of designers in this predicament. “It’s all too easy to design something that’s easily assembled, but taking it apart is often a different story,” he explained. “Many products are simply not designed for disassembly.”
Initially drawn to tackling the throwaway culture rampant in the mobile phone market for his final year project, he instead opted to apply the modular electronics concept pioneered by companies like Fairphone to the humble kettle.
“I wanted a repair process that felt more like routine maintenance, akin to changing a vacuum cleaner bag,” Mr Kay elaborated. “The sight of a jumble of intimidating electronics can be a major deterrent to even attempting a repair.”
The Restart Project, a leading voice in the circular economy, is among the organisations championing the potential of reuse and repair, particularly during periods when many households engage in decluttering activities.
The kettle has garnered accolades from his university and the New Designers graduate showcase. He has also been selected to participate in the Green Grads programme, a platform that celebrates students with innovative ideas for a more sustainable future.
“Our planet is drowning in waste, and recycling alone is not the answer,” asserted Green Grads founder and curator, Barbara Chandler. “Gabriel’s kettle exemplifies how even small appliances can be designed for repair. It serves as a powerful reminder of the need to create products that endure and the crucial role of repairability in achieving that goal.”
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