After learning about sustainable design I started looking for products that were designed from a sustainable perspective. Once I did my research I found many products, but one stood out to me in particular, 3M's Agave Leaf Kitchen Sponge. 3M's approach was to find a recycled source material to make something from. They found their solution in Tequila, in one Mexican state where 41 million gallons of Tequila were produced from 700,000 tons of agave, but when producing tequila only the juice of the plant is used, nothing else. So some scientists began to think of different ways they could use the plant, and they did just that, made a sponge from agave leaves. The sponge is not made entirely from the agave fibers, it is made up of 50% of the sustainable material, but the packaging is made up of completely post-consumer recycled materials, so overall this product is a success in sustainable design. More than one area of the product was re-designed to become more innovative and green.
You can find more about their process here: 3m's Solution to Sourcing Sustainably
I plan to look for this sponge at the store the next time I am in need of cleaning supplies. I am not 100% sure if my roommates will adjust to the new look or not, but I think it is worth the try, and besides, its a non-scratch sponge how could you go wrong?
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