About the project
EcoPatas considers challenges of waste management and resource limitations in animal shelters. The proposal suggests transforming kennel waste—food packaging, plastic bottles, and damaged toys—into animal care tools using Sun Factory technology. The collection includes PENTNIL (a grooming brush), Little Bag Holder (for waste collection during walks), DUOPET (a dual-function washing and detangling brush), and DISUGA (a feeding toy). The concept outlines a three-stage process of sorting, selection, and cleaning, where shelter staff and volunteers could convert waste into practical tools, potentially reducing environmental impact while creating resources for animal care.
About the EcoPatas’ approach
EcoPatas explores distributed design values by suggesting a circular approach to resource use in animal care contexts. The project proposes making production techniques and design files accessible, enabling adaptation based on specific needs and available materials. The concept envisions bringing together shelter staff, volunteers, and community members in participatory processes that could build both skills and social connections. The proposal considers how a waste management challenge might become an opportunity for resource creation. EcoPatas suggests integrating environmental considerations, animal welfare, community engagement, and economic aspects into a concept that explores how local action might address interconnected challenges.
About the collective
Eliana Lima, Maria Monteiro, Rita Salvador, and Daniela Parreiras are Visual Arts and Technologies students at Politécnico de Lisboa who share an interest in animal welfare and sustainable design. Their project represents an academic exploration of how design thinking might address challenges faced by animal shelters. As students, they researched the needs of these organizations and conceptualized potential solutions, approaching the work as a learning opportunity. Their collaborative process allowed them to combine their developing design skills with research into both animal care and waste management, demonstrating how design education can engage with community issues through creative problem-solving.