Prototype Forster - Remanufactured: How to low-carbon, local, fair, and closed loop

AI Quick Summary

Forster metal kitchens have a 60+ life expectancy. Often due to aesthetical reasons and linear economy principles, the kitchens are discarded prematurely. In accordance with the extended producer responsibility, we aim to pilot systematically reclaiming Forster Kitchen, taking them back to the factory and preparing them for their second life. Forster - Remanufactured will be a scalable and systemic approach to circular kitchens, effectively providing a low-carbon, local, fair trade, and closed loop product What problem would you like to solve?​Forster metal kitchens have a life expectancy of 60+ years, far surpassing the 20-year expectancy of less recyclable chipboard kitchens with resin coating. However, they face multiple challenges: high-quality kitchens are currently more costly, durable materials mismatch with sustainability goals, and re-using appliances encounters resistance due to hygiene concerns, lack of guaranteed functionality and mistrust. In any case, the restriction in availability and customizability hinders its re-use. Our Pilot aims to establish remanufacturing processes and supply chains, setting new standards for extended producer responsibility. By streamlining the reuse and remanufacturing of Forster kitchen components and V-Zug appliances, we intend to make them as easily available as new kitchens. How would you like to go about?In collaboration with Forster and V-Zug manufacturing companies, leveraging their expertise and facilities, we aim to construct a prototype kitchen and a corresponding remanufactured component system. Utilizing used kitchen components and remanufactured industrially, we will elevate them to the standards of new products. Additionally, any unusable elements (hinges, mounts, locking mechanisms etc.) will be replaced with new materials to achieve a like-new condition. Subsequently, Forster and V-Zug will develop warranty and service agreements to ensure compliance with current regulations, facilitating a swift entry into the current market but with a closed loop product. Supplemented by an extensive marketing campaign, we wish to highlight the environmental and local trade value of a Forster kitchen, encouraging existing owners to retain their kitchens for a maximum life span.Who will benefit from your solution and how?​The Pilot offers multiple benefits:Local trades will benefit as the solution is based on established and local stakeholders, fostering economic stability in the transition to a circular economy and creating service-oriented jobs.Manufacturers can provide low-carbon, local, fair trade, and closed loop products, enhancing the sustainability and competitiveness of their products.Owners, investors, and the construction sector at large stand to profit by lowering its carbon footprint, aligning with sustainability goals and regulations.Society benefits from slowing down climate change, promoting social equity, and future-proofing the economy.Overall, this solution expects to contribute to the innovation landscape with new benchmarks for the challenge of the extended producer’s responsibility and thus test and highlight business opportunities for local trades. Who are the existing persons/companies in your team and what is their role? Studio Buser GmbH (Lead Organisation)Barbara Buser (Re-use Entrepreneur, Owner of Studio Buser AG): Advisor – Process, Business and Product DevelopmentAnna Buser (Re-use Entrepreneur, Owner of Studio Buser AG): Core Team – Process, Business and Product DevelopmentFélix Dillmann (Architect & Urbanist): Project LeadForster Home AG (Implementation Partner)Max Müller (Entrepreneur, Chairman of the Board of Directors – Forster AG): Core Team – Process and Business DevelopmentRodolfo Gavalini (CSO – Forster AG): Advisor – Lead Kitchen Service DepartmentV-ZUG AG (Implementation Partner)Marcel Niederberger (Head of Sustainability - V-Zug): Core Team - Kitchen appliancesHow does your challenge have a positive impact on the planet (e.g., material reduction, CO2 emission reduction)?​By giving the components and whole Forster kitchens a second life, we save primary material resources and considerably reduce CO2 emissions. With that, it contributes to the conservation of natural resources and reduces social inequality of material sourcing in foreign countries. Has your idea been tested before?Baubüro in situ planned and built in around 40 kitchens over the last 20 years in new and renovated houses. But each project was a single case. The Forster service team and V-ZUG are already able to repair a big part of their existing kitchens and products. What is new now is that we plan a systematic approach together with the producers (Forster & V-Zug). Thus we will be able to guarantee the highest quality, reduce the price for remanufactured kitchens and provide service contracts to set the legal framework in Circular Economy. What are you planning on working on throughout the booster (e.g., developing the business model, building an initial prototype, material for prototyping, etc.)? We will test and calculate the business modelWe will build up a show kitchen to demonstrate the remanufactured lineWe will develop service contracts and the required legal frameworkWe will calculate the CO2 savingsWe will launch a marketing campaign> If successful, we will equip a cooperative with 17 kitchens, 100+ kitchens waiting in line. What will you deliver at the end of the booster?Proof of concept, including:Agreement/Collaboration contract with Forster AG and V-Zug AG to reuse the kitchen cabinets and electric appliances which would otherwise be demolished.Design of the “Forster – remanufactured” line with remanufactured V-Zug appliances.A process line to find and save all the kitchens that are being discharged and going to be recycled.Ready to market business modelMarketing campaign to make clients (architects, owners, investors) aware of the lifespan of metal kitchen cupboards and the CO2 advantage of reuse What are you expecting from the booster (e.g., looking for specific partners, expert support, etc.)?Connect with other experts and initiators for Circular Economy Models to strengthen a broad network and ecosystem for innovation.Receiving support in the development of a scalable business case. Finding specific partners for dismantling and reinstallation remanufactured kitchens in 3 regions of Switzerland.Finding marketing partnersContribute to open InnovationHow will you attract the 3rd party funding (10% of the total funding amount)?Forster metal kitchens have a life expectancy of 60+ years, far surpassing the 20-year expectancy of less recyclable chipboard kitchens with resin coating. However, they face multiple challenges: high-quality kitchens are currently more costly, durable materials mismatch with sustainability goals, and re-using appliances encounters resistance due to hygiene concerns, lack of guaranteed functionality and mistrust. In any case, the restriction in availability and customizability hinders its re-use. So, they have agreed to provide 10% of the funding amount.

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: Prototype Forster - Remanufactured: How to low-carbon, local, fair, and closed loop
• Date: 3/16/2024 4:11:01 PM
• Administrators:
  • Félix Dillmann

Project Idea Description

What problem would you like to solve?​

Forster metal kitchens have a life expectancy of 60+ years, far surpassing the 20-year expectancy of less recyclable chipboard kitchens with resin coating. However, they face multiple challenges: high-quality kitchens are currently more costly, durable materials mismatch with sustainability goals, and re-using appliances encounters resistance due to hygiene concerns, lack of guaranteed functionality and mistrust. In any case, the restriction in availability and customizability hinders its re-use. Our Pilot aims to establish remanufacturing processes and supply chains, setting new standards for extended producer responsibility. By streamlining the reuse and remanufacturing of Forster kitchen components and V-Zug appliances, we intend to make them as easily available as new kitchens.

How would you like to go about?

In collaboration with Forster and V-Zug manufacturing companies, leveraging their expertise and facilities, we aim to construct a prototype kitchen and a corresponding remanufactured component system. Utilizing used kitchen components and remanufactured industrially, we will elevate them to the standards of new products. Additionally, any unusable elements (hinges, mounts, locking mechanisms etc.) will be replaced with new materials to achieve a like-new condition. Subsequently, Forster and V-Zug will develop warranty and service agreements to ensure compliance with current regulations, facilitating a swift entry into the current market but with a closed loop product.

Supplemented by an extensive marketing campaign, we wish to highlight the environmental and local trade value of a Forster kitchen, encouraging existing owners to retain their kitchens for a maximum life span.

Who will benefit from your solution and how?​

The Pilot offers multiple benefits:

• Local trades will benefit as the solution is based on established and local stakeholders, fostering economic stability in the transition to a circular economy and creating service-oriented jobs.
• Manufacturers can provide low-carbon, local, fair trade, and closed loop products, enhancing the sustainability and competitiveness of their products.
• Owners, investors, and the construction sector at large stand to profit by lowering its carbon footprint, aligning with sustainability goals and regulations.
• Society benefits from slowing down climate change, promoting social equity, and future-proofing the economy.

Overall, this solution expects to contribute to the innovation landscape with new benchmarks for the challenge of the extended producer’s responsibility and thus test and highlight business opportunities for local trades.

Who are the existing persons/companies in your team and what is their role?

Studio Buser GmbH (Lead Organisation)

• Barbara Buser (Re-use Entrepreneur, Owner of Studio Buser AG): Advisor – Process, Business and Product Development
• Anna Buser (Re-use Entrepreneur, Owner of Studio Buser AG): Core Team – Process, Business and Product Development
• Félix Dillmann (Architect & Urbanist): Project Lead

Forster Home AG (Implementation Partner)

• Max Müller (Entrepreneur, Chairman of the Board of Directors – Forster AG): Core Team – Process and Business Development
• Rodolfo Gavalini (CSO – Forster AG): Advisor – Lead Kitchen Service Department

V-ZUG AG (Implementation Partner)

• Marcel Niederberger (Head of Sustainability - V-Zug): Core Team - Kitchen appliances

How does your challenge have a positive impact on the planet (e.g., material reduction, CO2 emission reduction)?​

By giving the components and whole Forster kitchens a second life, we save primary material resources and considerably reduce CO2 emissions. With that, it contributes to the conservation of natural resources and reduces social inequality of material sourcing in foreign countries.

Has your idea been tested before?

Baubüro in situ planned and built in around 40 kitchens over the last 20 years in new and renovated houses. But each project was a single case. The Forster service team and V-ZUG are already able to repair a big part of their existing kitchens and products. What is new now is that we plan a systematic approach together with the producers (Forster & V-Zug). Thus we will be able to guarantee the highest quality, reduce the price for remanufactured kitchens and provide service contracts to set the legal framework in Circular Economy.

What are you planning on working on throughout the booster (e.g., developing the business model, building an initial prototype, material for prototyping, etc.)?

We will test and calculate the business model

We will build up a show kitchen to demonstrate the remanufactured line

We will develop service contracts and the required legal framework

We will calculate the CO2 savings

We will launch a marketing campaign

> If successful, we will equip a cooperative with 17 kitchens, 100+ kitchens waiting in line.

What will you deliver at the end of the booster?

Proof of concept, including:

• Agreement/Collaboration contract with Forster AG and V-Zug AG to reuse the kitchen cabinets and electric appliances which would otherwise be demolished.
• Design of the “Forster – remanufactured” line with remanufactured V-Zug appliances.
• A process line to find and save all the kitchens that are being discharged and going to be recycled.
• Ready to market business model
• Marketing campaign to make clients (architects, owners, investors) aware of the lifespan of metal kitchen cupboards and the CO2 advantage of reuse

What are you expecting from the booster (e.g., looking for specific partners, expert support, etc.)?

• Connect with other experts and initiators for Circular Economy Models to strengthen a broad network and ecosystem for innovation.
• Receiving support in the development of a scalable business case.
• Finding specific partners for dismantling and reinstallation remanufactured kitchens in 3 regions of Switzerland.
• Finding marketing partners
• Contribute to open Innovation

How will you attract the 3rd party funding (10% of the total funding amount)?

Forster metal kitchens have a life expectancy of 60+ years, far surpassing the 20-year expectancy of less recyclable chipboard kitchens with resin coating. However, they face multiple challenges: high-quality kitchens are currently more costly, durable materials mismatch with sustainability goals, and re-using appliances encounters resistance due to hygiene concerns, lack of guaranteed functionality and mistrust. In any case, the restriction in availability and customizability hinders its re-use.

So, they have agreed to provide 10% of the funding amount.

Forster metal kitchens have a 60+ life expectancy. Often due to aesthetical reasons and linear economy principles, the kitchens are discarded prematurely. In accordance with the extended producer responsibility, we aim to pilot systematically reclaiming Forster Kitchen, taking them back to the factory and preparing them for their second life. Forster - Remanufactured will be a scalable and systemic approach to circular kitchens, effectively providing a low-carbon, local, fair trade, and closed loop product