Vapur
Vapur’s Element Anti-Bottle
Vapur
Vapur’s Element Anti-Bottle
Creative Director
Vapur’s Element Anti-Bottle
In March, Vapur, maker of the Vapur Anti-Bottle, introduced the new Element. The Element is a foldable, reusable, freezable, washable, and highly durable alternative to disposable water bottles; it is 100% BPA free and 100% made in the U.S. and it can be rolled, folded, or flattened when empty.
The patented design of the Anti-Bottle makes it unique and it’s truly innovative and cutting edge, incorporating trendy graphics and colors that reflect the attitude of the Vapur consumer base. It is arguably the most innovative bottle design ever that is revolutionizing the way consumers hydrate on the go.
In 2009, Vapur launched its flagship product, the Vapur Anti-Bottle, as the first foldable, reusable water bottle designed for active, environmentally conscious consumers. Shortly after launching the product, we began exploring ways to radically improve its design to appeal to the needs of athletes and more technical users (runners, backpackers, climbers, etc.) who had come to appreciate the foldability and lightweight nature of our product. Specifically, we needed to develop a larger size, a more functional and user-friendly spout and a more durable clip. In addition, we were committed to designing and manufacturing the entire product in the United States, which posed considerable sourcing and cost challenges.
The result of this process was the new Vapur Element, the most versatile water bottle on the planet. The Element is a foldable, reusable, freezable, washable, and highly durable alternative to disposable water bottles. Like all Vapur bottles, the Element is 100% BPA free and 100% made in the USA. About 87% lighter than typical rigid water bottles, the Element stands when full, but can be rolled, folded, or flattened when empty – making it easy to stash and go. The lightweight, flexible features of this foldable water bottle make the Element a great hydration solution for any active lifestyle pursuit.
Each year more than 38 billion single-use water bottles end up in U.S. landfills. Though the adoption of reusable water bottles has grown rapidly over the past few years, it has done little to stem the flow of plastic bottle waste. Vapur believes that a key reason for this is the inconvenience of toting a bulky rigid water bottle around on a daily basis. Our team set out to design a water bottle that was so convenient, attractive and affordable that consumers would be compelled to change their behavior and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle that keeps them hydrated everywhere.
4. The Process: Describe the rigor that informed your project. (Research, ethnography, subject matter experts, materials exploration, technology, iteration, testing, etc., as applicable.) What stakeholder interests did you consider? (Audience, business, organization, labor, manufacturing, distribution, etc., as applicable)We launched our product development process with an open innovation session with our key partners and suppliers, including BMW DesignWorks. As a part of this several month process, we interviewed current customers, reviewed competitive sets, explored a range of new materials and processes and brainstormed possible solutions. After an initial set of about 10 ideas was selected, we began the process of rapid prototyping and user testing to refine the final design. All said, the end-to-end development process lasted 12 months.
5. The Value: How does your project earn its keep in the world? What is its value? What is its impact? (Social, educational, economic, paradigm-shifting, sustainable, environmental, cultural, gladdening, etc.)Founded in 2009, California-based Vapur, Inc. is on a mission to make hydration incomparably portable and convenient. As the leading designer, marketer and distributor of reusable, handheld, collapsible hydration products. All Vapur Anti-Bottles are manufactured in the United States and use less energy to make and transport than traditional bottles, and produce significantly less waste in our landfills. Vapur’s foldable, convenient, and sustainable Anti-Bottles appeal to a broad range of consumers, and have attracted an ardent following internationally. The Anti-Bottle is a unique and novel hydration collection that underscores the company’s vision and leadership in design.
The jury noted how bottles are a very popular obsession with designers at the moment. Vapur had the edge on other entrants because of their reading of problems associated with reusable bottles, namely the volume taken up by empty bottles and how this is unnecessary. Vapur rolls up after use reducing bulk which in turn leads to further use.