Sustainable solutions for large items in Chinese communities
Research, Design managment,
Product Concept, UX / UI design, Interaction design, Prototyping
Wanrou Zhu
2023
Figma, AE
iOS
To help create a sustainable link between residents, communities, and recycling companies by providing a standardized bulky item recycling system that promotes recycling and reduces waste.
Due to the lack of a solution for the recycling of large items in Chinese communities and a lack of sustainability awareness among Chinese residents, a significant amount of resources is being wasted.
Chinese communities lack a standardized system for the recycling of large items, leading to many of these items being left in community hallways or public areas. This has specific impacts on residents' lives and poses challenges for resource recycling. Furthermore, Chinese people's reluctance to use second-hand items, fragmented recycling initiatives, and inefficient information exchange all hinder the development of a standardized, environmentally-friendly process for the recycling and disposal of large items.
Renewopia is a community-centered recycling platform that aims to improve the efficiency of recycling by providing convenient recycling services and offering standardized used products.
Renewopia presents a comprehensive solution designed to streamline the bulky item recycling process within Chinese communities. Through standardized procedures and active community engagement, as well as increased acceptance of second-hand goods by residents, waste is significantly reduced. Residents can easily book recycling appointments or opt for uniformly processed used products through our platform. We create a sustainable recycling closed loop by working closely with neighborhood associations, property companies, and recycling companies. We strive to increase the acceptance of used items, reduce waste, and create a more sustainable future for our community.
I have designed a recycling system with 3 specific use cases including personas, user flows, system diagrams, wireframes, high fidelity prototypes and clickable interactive prototypes.
I created sustainable recycling closed loop system with 3 specific use cases.
1. Standardized recycling platform
2. Large item reuse platform
3. Manage My Items
Residents can quickly and easily schedule a recycling appointment through the recycling platform's App and choose the recycling method that suits their needs. Door-to-door collection, where residents can choose the right time slot to wait for a hauler to come to their home. Community collection points, where residents can drop off their items at a community collection point without waiting. The recycling company will organize the collection after receiving the order. The recycling company will test the products according to the standard criteria and then provide the residents with recycling rewards.
1. Select Reservation from the homepage
2. Enter recycled item information according to the guide
3. Select a Recycling Method
4. Choosing the right time for recycling
5. Waiting for recycling & checking statusnavigation display
6. Receive Recycling Reward Money
Large items that are still usable after recycling will be tested, cleaned and repaired by recycling companies to a standard that allows for resale. When in demand, users can easily find items that meet their needs and purchase them at a relatively low price, or choose to rent them.
1. Go to the Used Items page to find what you need
2. Select a product that meets your needs
3. View product details & select purchase method
4. Confirmation of product price and date & payment
Users can view and manage their purchased or rented used items in the "My" page. Users can quickly recycle purchased used items, reducing unnecessary hassle and getting better offers. For rented items, users can simply renew and return the items without worrying about handling and disposal.
1. Go to My page for information
2. Select the items you want to manage and view
3. Purchased items can be quickly booked for recycling
4. Rented items have the option to renew or end the rental period
Based on my secondary research, it is found that gated community waste recycling and treatment in China faces various challenges, such as insufficient awareness among households, inadequate recycling and treatment facilities, and inadequate policies and regulations.
According to the data, the number of discarded large items in China is increasing, the recycling rate is low, and the amount of incineration and landfill continues to increase, making environmental pollution an increasingly severe problem. In addition, with the rapid urbanization process, urban pressure is increasing, aggravating the pollution problem caused by waste.
However, with the government gradually launching a series of waste recycling and treatment policies and plans, such as the Domestic Waste Classification System and the New Urbanization Plan, it is expected to promote further the construction and improvement of the waste recycling and treatment system in the coming years.
Currently, China's recycling and disposal methods mainly include resource utilization and harmless treatment. Large items such as waste furniture and home appliances contain many recyclable resources, such as metal, plastic, glass, etc. Through recycling and dismantling, these resources can be recovered and utilized. At the same time, harmless treatment can be used for the part that cannot be recycled, such as incineration, landfill, etc.
The primary research was divided into three parts: Survey, Interview, and Co-creation Workshop, which aimed to understand the current situation of recycling and disposal of oversized items in Beijing's closed communities. Interviews were conducted with community managers and stakeholders to understand the current status of community management, the operation of the recycling and disposal system, problems and expectations for the future, etc. The Co-creation Workshop brought residents together to discuss, through co-design and focus groups, how to improve recycling and disposal systems, increase resident participation and awareness, and other issues.
Most residents do not know what recycling is actually used for, and many believe that sustainability is a gimmick or doubt the authenticity of recycling systems.
The lack of participation in recycling is due to a lack of awareness, inconvenience, and lack of financial incentive.
Due to cultural and social factors, Chinese residents do not have a high level of acceptance of second-hand goods, which affects the recycling rate.
Communities and waste management agencies need to provide convenient recycling methods and standardized disposal processes to simplify the disposal process for residents.
Currently, Chinese recycling companies focus on recycling and material disassembly as the main means of utilization.
Due to poor information, there is a wide range of recycling options, such as recycling companies, private recycling, scavengers, etc. The lack of recycling standards reduces the efficiency of recycling.
To create the perfect new framework for community replicable recycling and disposal of large items, we have the opportunity to create a new business model for the recycling system, which can help communities better manage and reduce the waste of things. In this highly competitive market, it is essential to understand the strengths and weaknesses of our competitors and the opportunities and challenges of the market. Using 2x2 analysis and the Blue Ocean strategy, I will conduct an in-depth study of this market to identify potential opportunities and provide valuable recommendations for the development of this market.
Competitor profiles and market needs were analyzed through the 2X2 Matrix and Blue Ocean Strategy, and the following opportunity spaces were identified: improving recycling efficiency, recycling incentives to stimulate participation, and reducing waste through reuse. These opportunity spaces offer potential opportunities to improve and innovate existing recycling systems to meet the needs of consumers and communities and lead to continued business growth.
These opportunity spaces will help me create an efficient, sustainable, and attractive recycling platform that promotes the recycling of resources, increases resident engagement, and advances environmental protection and sustainable development.
How might we foster active community participation in recycling and improve the sustainability of recycling practices?
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Chinese communities
Residents seeking a comprehensive and sustainable solution for large item recycling and reuse.
A complete system of regulated recyclable recycling services.
Facilitates the efficient collection, sorting, and processing of large items. Usable items are refurbished for resale or rental, while non-usable items are recycled to minimize waste.
Partnering with neighborhood committees, property management companies, and recycling specialists to establish a closed-loop recycling ecosystem that encourages active participation and fosters environmental awareness.
Traditional disposal methods that contribute to landfill waste and lack proper recycling practices, Renewopia ensures responsible and standardized recycling procedures while incentivizing residents through rewards and recognition.
Focuses on standardizing the recycling process, increasing acceptance of secondhand goods, and fostering community engagement to create a sustainable and responsible system for large item recycling.
I ensure that community design solutions for large item recycling meet the intended needs and goals while providing consistency, actionability, and measurability through the development of Design Criteria.The Design Criteria define the mission and goals of the project in terms of must have, should have, and nice to have three dimensions, providing clear guidelines to ensure that the design outcomes meet the expectations and meet user and stakeholder expectations.
Efficient Booking
The Renewopia app offers residents a convenient and user-friendly platform to schedule the pickup of large items for recycling.
Standardized Recycling
It provides a standardized process for recycling bulky items within Chinese communities, ensuring that items are handled in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner.
Acceptance of Second-hand Goods
The app encourages residents to embrace second-hand products, promoting a more sustainable and circular economy.
Centralized Platform
Residents can easily book recycling appointments and even select uniformly processed used products, all within a centralized app.
Trust-Building
By establishing trust between residents and the recycling process, Renewopia encourages more active participation and engagement.
Use information architecture to plan the layout and structure of the page before drawing wireframes.
Based on the information architecture, I started thinking about interaction design and creating low-fidelity wireframes.
Logo
Headings
Paragraph
Primary colors
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Based on the information architecture, I started thinking about interaction design and creating low-fidelity wireframes.
We need to ensure that our goals and mission are aligned with the core values of community recycling and sustainability. This can help us maintain long-term momentum and focus and consistently pursue sustainability throughout our projects.
Work closely with neighborhood councils, property companies, and community events to promote recycling awareness and engagement among residents. We can organize regular community events, provide training and education on recycling knowledge, and have a reward system to encourage residents to actively participate in the recycling process.
We should establish a feedback mechanism to keep close contact with users and stakeholders, understand their needs and problems, and make timely improvements. Continuous improvement and optimization can help us provide better services and enhance user satisfaction and loyalty.
Throughout the project, we should always focus on environmental and resource sustainability. We can explore more ways to recycle and renewable energy, reduce waste, and ensure that our recycling and disposal processes have minimal impact on the environment.
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