Designed for disaster relief, this innovative cardboard bed offers a low-cost and easily transportable solution for emergency shelters. Developed by Madrid-based startup Humanitaria, this flat-packed bed is specifically designed for humanitarian work, addressing the need for a basic piece of equipment that is affordable, quick to assemble, and easy to transport. By utilizing cardboard as the main material, the bed can be produced at a significantly reduced cost, making it accessible for NGOs. With the ability to produce up to 24,000 beds in a day, this design has the potential to revolutionize the humanitarian shelter industry.
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Title: This simple design turns cardboard into an emergency bed in seconds
Introduction
In the world of humanitarian work, there is a pressing need for beds that are cost-effective, easy to transport, and quick to assemble. Current bed options often fall short in meeting these requirements, prompting the search for a more efficient solution. This article explores the innovative design of a low-cost bed made from cardboard, which addresses the limitations of existing bed options and revolutionizes the way shelters are set up in emergency situations.
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Designing a Low-Cost Bed for Humanitarian Work
The Need for Beds in Humanitarian Work
In humanitarian situations, such as natural disasters or refugee crises, the availability of adequate beds is crucial for providing temporary shelter and comfort to those in need. However, the current options for beds used in these situations often come with significant challenges.
Challenges with Current Bed Options
The traditional bed options used in humanitarian work, such as camping beds, can be expensive to acquire, slow to assemble, and difficult to transport by air. These limitations have created a demand for a more efficient and cost-effective bed solution that can address these challenges and meet the urgent needs of humanitarian organizations.
Choosing Cardboard as the Material
The designers behind this innovative bed solution, Humanitaria, decided to work with cardboard due to its affordability, lightweight nature, and rigidity. By choosing cardboard as the main material for the bed, they were able to significantly reduce the cost of production while maintaining the necessary strength and durability.
Advantages of Cardboard in Manufacturing
Cardboard offers several advantages when it comes to manufacturing beds for humanitarian work. It is readily available, easy to source, and can be produced in existing packaging factories. These factors contribute to minimal production costs and significantly faster production speeds, allowing for prompt response to specific demands in a matter of hours instead of weeks. Additionally, cardboard is a recyclable and biodegradable material, making it a sustainable choice for the humanitarian sector.
Scalability and Production Speed
One of the key advantages of the cardboard bed design is its scalability and production speed. With the collaboration of packaging manufacturers, as many as 24,000 beds can be produced in a day, doubling the production capacity of traditional camp bed manufacturers. This scalability ensures that a large number of beds can be readily available for immediate deployment in emergency situations.
Creating a Functional and Practical Design
Developing the Initial Concept
The designers at Humanitaria quickly developed the initial concept for the cardboard bed, focusing on easy manufacturability and assembly. The design had to be simple yet sturdy, capable of withstanding weight while also being easy to transport and store.
Tweaking the Design for Transportation and Storage
To optimize transportation and storage efficiency, the designers refined the size and structure of the bed. When folded flat, 100 beds can be stacked on a pallet, allowing for space-saving storage at logistics centers and enabling the beds to be transported by air. This level of efficiency ensures that a large quantity of beds can be quickly deployed to affected areas, even in hard-to-reach locations.
Ensuring Strength and Durability
The strength and durability of the cardboard bed were crucial considerations during the design process. Multiple layers of cardboard were incorporated into the structure, with two sheets of cardboard in the mattress area to provide additional support. Carefully planned folds in the design also contribute to the overall strength of the bed, allowing it to hold more than 700 pounds.
Foldability for Easy Assembly
One of the standout features of the cardboard bed design is its foldability. Similar to a cardboard box, the bed can be assembled within seconds by simply unfolding and securing the components. This ease of assembly ensures that the beds can be quickly put into use, providing immediate relief to those in need.
Space-Saving and Easy Transportation
Stacking and Storage Efficiency
The cardboard bed design offers exceptional stacking and storage efficiency. When not in use, the beds can be folded flat and stacked on pallets, minimizing the space required for storage. This efficient use of space allows for greater quantities of beds to be stored in logistics centers, ready for rapid deployment.
Transportation via Airplane
Traditional bed options used in humanitarian work often pose challenges when it comes to air transportation. However, the flat-packed design of the cardboard bed allows for easy transportation via airplane. The beds can be loaded onto planes in large quantities, ensuring that they can reach remote or disaster-stricken areas quickly and efficiently.
Assembly in Seconds
Another significant advantage of the cardboard bed design is its quick assembly time. In mere seconds, the bed can be unfolded and secured, ready for use. This rapid assembly process is essential in emergency situations, where time is of the essence, and immediate relief needs to be provided to those affected.
Not Designed for Comfort but Versatile in Use
Thin Mattresses and Blankets for Comfort
While the cardboard bed itself may not offer the same level of comfort as a traditional mattress, it is versatile enough to accommodate thin mattresses and blankets for added comfort. Humanitarian organizations can provide these additional bedding materials, similar to what is done with basic camping beds. This versatility ensures that the bed can meet the basic comfort needs of those using it.
Suitable for Makeshift Hospitals
In addition to emergency shelters, the cardboard bed is also suitable for use in makeshift hospitals. With its strength and durability, the bed can support individuals requiring emergency medical care while they receive treatment from doctors. This versatility expands the potential use cases for the cardboard bed, making it a valuable asset in humanitarian settings.
Revolutionizing Humanitarian Shelters
The introduction of the cardboard bed design has the potential to revolutionize the way humanitarian shelters are set up. With its low cost, ease of transportation, and quick assembly, the bed can quickly replace the current status quo in humanitarian shelters. This innovative solution brings much-needed efficiency, affordability, and sustainability to the humanitarian sector, leading the way in innovation.
Scaling Up Manufacturing and Testing
Manufacturing in Spain
Humanitaria has successfully scaled up manufacturing at a factory in Spain. The cardboard bed production is now in full swing, with the capacity to produce a large quantity of beds daily. This local production capability ensures quicker response times and reduced logistical challenges associated with long-distance manufacturing.
Testing with Spanish Red Cross
To validate the effectiveness and suitability of the cardboard beds, the Spanish Red Cross will conduct rigorous testing in shelters for victims of flooding. This testing phase will provide valuable insights and feedback on the bed’s performance, helping to further refine the design and ensure its suitability in real-world scenarios.
Expansion to Other Manufacturers
With the successful implementation of the cardboard bed design in Spain, Humanitaria is now exploring partnerships with manufacturers in other parts of the world. By expanding production capabilities globally, the bed’s availability can be increased, allowing for a more widespread and timely response to humanitarian emergencies.
Sustainability and Innovation in the Humanitarian Sector
Sustainable use of Recycled and Biodegradable Material
The use of cardboard as the primary material for the bed design aligns with sustainability goals in the humanitarian sector. Cardboard is a recycled and biodegradable material, minimizing the ecological impact of bed production and disposal. By prioritizing sustainable materials, Humanitaria is setting a precedent for environmentally conscious practices in the humanitarian sector.
Leading the Way in Innovation
The introduction of the cardboard bed design represents a significant leap forward in innovation within the humanitarian sector. By addressing the limitations of current bed options and offering a cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solution, Humanitaria is leading the way in transforming the way shelters are set up during emergencies. This groundbreaking approach not only improves the quality of life for those in need but also sets a new standard for innovation in humanitarian work.
Conclusion
The simple yet ingenious design of the cardboard bed has the potential to revolutionize the way emergency shelters are set up in humanitarian situations. With its low cost, ease of transportation, and quick assembly, this innovative solution offers a practical and scalable alternative to traditional beds. The versatility and sustainability of the cardboard bed make it a valuable asset in addressing the urgent needs of those affected by natural disasters, conflicts, and other humanitarian emergencies.
About the Author
Adele Peters is a senior writer at Fast Company who focuses on solutions to some of the world’s largest problems, from climate change to homelessness. She has contributed to various publications and is known for her expertise in exploring innovative approaches to tackle global challenges. Adele Peters is a passionate advocate for sustainability and has been involved in numerous projects promoting environmentally conscious practices.
