Briiv Air Filter | James Whitfield and Sean Sykes

Name of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)

Briiv Air Filter
URL of a video introducing the work（under 5 minutes）

https://youtu.be/U2-hWqefP_Q?si=fyQJfcrLLZ0LPwMp
Detailed explanation of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)

The air purification industry is rife with plastics, glass, and other unsustainable materials. We knew there was a better way to do things and set out to incorporate bioplastics and as many renewable materials as possible in our creation of Briiv. Briiv is officially the world’s most sustainable air filter, made from 90% natural materials, making it nearly entirely biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable. The unit and replacement filters also arrive in biodegradable cardboard packaging making the entire product circular in design.

Briiv was founded in the UK but is now sold worldwide including major markets in the US, Asia, and Europe. Poor and dangerous air quality is a worldwide issue and affects us both outside and in our homes. Data shows that nearly the entire global population breathes air that contains high levels of pollutants. This being the case, we set out to make Briiv available worldwide as a sustainable solution to a global problem. Therefore, the innovation of Briiv was motivated by the ability to positively impact and have a benefit to people’s lives, rather than making just another consumer product to add to the hundreds that are like-for-like. Currently, the air purification industry is saturated with large plastic units using plastic filters, none of which can re-used or recycled. Having clean air is essential to living a healthy life and Briiv is the sustainable solution to the problem.
How does your work address the 3 P’s (for Planet, for People, for Profit) for Sustainability?

Through our careful design and selection of materials, Briiv has eliminated the need for plastics or glues, setting it apart from other filter media that add to landfill and harm the Earth and environment. Briiv uses a 3-layer filtration system made up from 78% natural and biodegradable materials. The moss filter is a preserved reindeer moss which is ethically sourced and picked. The coconut filter uses waste products of coconut harvesting and natural latex to combine the fibres. Our nano-matrix filter utilises activated carbon and nanofibers to remove fine particulate to a HEPA standard. The purchase of one Briiv unit saves approximately 16kg of plastic from going to landfill, and plants 1 tree through our company policy. Briiv’s low energy usage of 5V means it is extremely cheap to run and maintain which adds to it sustainable features. Compared to other air purifiers, Briiv’s filters are considerably cheaper to replace as well as 2 out of the 3 being home compostable. This combined with low energy costs makes Briiv one of the cheapest air purifiers to run and maintain for years on end.

Briiv’s inclusive design includes accessible features such as the option to operate the unit manually as opposed to using the app; touch-free controls for users with restricted mobility, and minimal upkeep and maintenance for users with busy lifestyles or inability to care for their home freely and regularly. Smart device compatibility and integration also allows for voice operated control which eliminates the need to physically interact with the unit, assisting the visually impaired.
Where (country, region, etc.) have you primarily carried out your project?

United Kingdom
What is the timeline your project has taken place over?

2019-2021
Keywords

#airfilter #sustainable #circulardesign
If you have a website for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL

https://www.briiv.co.uk/
If you have a social media account for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL

https://www.instagram.com/briiv.natural/
Special Prize Question 1: Is there a mechanism in place to inherit culture and industry as assets for people living in that area 100 or even 1000 years from now?

At Briiv, we employee and train people who want to contribute to the change needed in both the consumer products industry and the air purification industry. As a team we want to see the world succeed in its push to a more sustainable future and we believe Briiv does play a major part in that movement. We also understand that this industry change can’t and won’t happen overnight and that it may take the people that take over from us to carry on the mission we’ve laid out. Much of what Briiv does as a company is based around educating consumers and others in the air purification industry about circular design and the benefits involved with it. Our product has proven that it is possible to break the mould regarding design, aesthetics, and materials to create something that doesn’t harm the Earth but is also more than fit for purpose and performance. We have proved that it possible to make something out of 90% natural materials that can still remove harmful particles from your air, allowing you to live a healthier life.

Briiv’s legacy is that of education and leading by example. We’ve sparked the conversations and debates about whether natural materials can rival man-made materials and have also explained why it is necessary to explore these avenues in the industry and beyond. We see a future where 100 years or more down the line consumer products reflect sustainability in full capacity and continue to push those boundaries.
Special Prize Question 2: What is the positive impact on biodiversity? Is the project creating a cycle not just from a human-centered perspective but for the entire ecosystem?

Briiv is focused on the circular design process meaning it was designed to return to the Earth. At Briiv, we are absolutely determined to utilise cutting-edge design and innovation to develop as many solutions as we can. This can only be possible by placing the circular economy and sustainability at the core of everything we do. Briiv’s entire design is taken from nature and ultimately gives back to nature through its lifespan, especially afterwards. Briiv was created in 2019 and since then has grown in both recognition and popularity. This increased visibility means more people have the option to choose a better option for the environment. It means they can make the sustainable option because we have created one that can substitute the others.

Due to Briiv’s compostable nature it has the ability to have a positive and long-lasting effective on nature and biodiversity, unlike any other air purifier in the industry. Elements of Briiv can go on to have use in the ecosystem after its life as an air filter giving it a dual purpose like no other. Ultimately, the more people that know about Briiv the greater change and bigger affect we can have on the industry and on the planet.
Special Prize Question 3: Are you enabling new forms of collaboration with others? New forms of collaboration might include cross-industry cooperation, co-creation with consumers, or role transformations within the supply chain.

Briiv uses elements and materials from nature to create an air filter that looks and performs like no other. The moss we use is sourced from Finland and is typically used for decoration in the interior design industry. However, in Briiv the moss acts as our first layer of filtration giving it a functional role. The moss’s natural microstructure allows it to successfully capture larger particles such as dust, pet dander and hair. Similarly, the fabric ring used on Briiv’s base is supplied from a company that specialises in making lamp shades. In our creation of Briiv we were able to explore this material and its properties, the main one being its biodegradability. Through our exploration of materials, we were able to find and create a bespoke bioplastic derived from elephant grass never used before in the air purification industry. For many aspects of Briiv, such as the moss and the fabric ring, we’ve increased the efficiency of our supply chain and ultimately of the product. This is because we have turned to materials that have already been made or sourced for different purposes and have re-purposed through the creation of Briiv. We’ve been able to take things that have already existed for quite some time and turn them into something else that benefits people. A huge advantage to this approach is, these materials have already been proven to work in their previous industry, so this increases the chance of success, which we have benefitted from with Briiv.