The Origami Bottle from Bulgarian startup Difold is said to fold down to less than ten percent of its original volume.

 

According to Difold, the foldability not only improves user convenience, but also reduces the carbon footprint during transportation. Recyclability and longevity of the bottle, which is designed to be a durable, reusable and recyclable alternative to disposable water bottles, were the most important factors in choosing the material for the product, Difold co-founders Radina Popova and Petar Zaharinov explain: "We wanted a bio-based material that could be recycled while having the specific mechanical properties required for the folding design." The Origami Bottle is reportedly made of a biobased thermoplastic copolyester derived from canola oil. The material for the bottles, called Arnitel Eco, comes from DSM Engineering Materials, based in Geleen, the Netherlands. Arnitel Eco is BPA-free and can withstand temperatures between -30 °C and 100 °C, according to DSM. It also does not absorb odors or tastes from liquids and can be recycled without loss of quality, is said. The carbon footprint of the Origami Bottle is reduced by up to 50 percent compared to mineral oil-based copolyesters, according to DSM. According to the company, this was the result of a life cycle assessment that included every phase of material production from the cultivation of raw materials to the finished product.

 

Sources:

• k-aktuell.de (March 21, 2023)
• Photo: © DSM