Ritika Janiya
Gabriel Kay, a talented 22-year-old student at De Montfort University, has designed something simple yet revolutionary: a kettle that anyone can repair. This invention addresses a growing problem in our world – the massive amount of waste generated from broken or discarded electronic items. Gabriel’s kettle, which he named “Osiris,” stands out because it is easy to fix. Unlike typical appliances, which often end up in the trash once they stop working, this kettle’s removable parts allow owners to keep it working for longer, ultimately reducing waste.
A Product Everyone Can Relate To
Gabriel chose the kettle for his design project for a simple reason: everyone knows what a kettle is and how it works. “Everyone can relate to a kettle, right?” he explains. “It’s easy to understand and brings comfort. It’s a friendly introduction to design.” For Gabriel, creating a product that people could easily connect with was important. He wanted to show that good design doesn’t always have to be about complex or high-tech items; sometimes, the best ideas are those that people can easily use and understand.
What Makes Osiris Different
The big difference between Osiris and other kettles lies in its repairability. The electronics in Osiris can be removed and replaced with just a screwdriver, making it something anyone can fix at home. Gabriel made sure the potentially dangerous components are safely separated so that users don’t have to worry about getting injured. He compares the process to something as simple as changing a vacuum cleaner bag. “You won’t see any scary internal electrics,” Gabriel explains, “just a design that’s easy to work with.”
Osiris is winning attention and awards for this innovative approach. Gabriel’s university, De Montfort, has awarded him for his work, and he has also received recognition from New Designers, a showcase for recent graduates in the design field. His design is part of a larger movement to promote repairable goods and reduce waste, and people are beginning to take notice.
Promoting Sustainable Design Through Green Grads
Gabriel’s work has also been noticed by the Green Grads program, which supports young designers who are focused on creating environmentally friendly solutions. Established in 2021 by Barbara Chandler, a design editor, the program was created to highlight new UK graduates with fresh ideas to “heal the planet.” Green Grads provides opportunities for these designers to exhibit their creations at events and shows, helping to spread the word about their eco-friendly inventions. Gabriel’s Osiris kettle is among the designs featured in Green Grads’ upcoming event in London. His kettle will be displayed alongside other creative green products, like a shoe adaptable to different terrains, a new biocomposite material made from rice straw, and seaweed-based “leather.”
According to Chandler, repairability is just as important as recycling when it comes to cutting down waste. Repairable products help people use items for longer, reducing the need for replacements. She notes, “Gabriel’s kettle focuses on that. You never see any scary internal electrics. Materials are robust; it looks good and works well.” Chandler also shares that 80% of consumers want products they can repair, which means there’s a real need for designs like Osiris.
The Growing Issue of E-Waste
E-waste, or electronic waste, is a huge issue today. This waste includes discarded phones, laptops, and other electronic items, and it’s a growing problem. According to the United Nations’ Global E-waste Monitor (GEM), the amount of e-waste being generated worldwide is increasing five times faster than recycling efforts can keep up with. A report by GEM predicts that the recycling rate for e-waste will drop from 22.3% in 2022 to just 20% by 2030 as more electronic products are used and discarded.
In the UK, most electrical goods are designed in a way that makes them hard to repair, so people often throw them away when they break. To make matters worse, if people try to fix these items themselves, they can sometimes lose their warranty, which discourages repairs. Although the UK introduced a “right to repair” law in 2021, it’s considered inadequate and doesn’t cover many products. This has led to the UK being one of the world’s largest producers of e-waste per capita. Much of this waste is sent to developing countries, with Ghana being home to one of the world’s largest e-waste dumps.
A Name With Meaning: Osiris
Gabriel named his kettle Osiris, after the Egyptian god of death, rebirth, and resurrection, to represent the cycle of reusability. Gabriel hopes his product will live up to its name by having a longer, more useful life. “Consciousness is everything,” he says, explaining that being aware of how long our products should last and using them to their full potential can help combat the e-waste problem. His hope is that as people learn to use and repair their items, they will waste less, helping to reduce environmental damage.
Room for Growth and Support for Repairable Products
Osiris has not yet received investment, but Gabriel is optimistic. The popularity of repairable and eco-friendly goods is rising. Companies like Fairphone, which makes repairable smartphones, turned profitable in 2020, showing that consumers are interested in these types of products. Another success story is Suri, a company that makes repairable, recyclable toothbrushes, which reached sales of over £10 million in 2023.
Gabriel believes that with stronger laws supporting the right to repair, more people would be open to buying repairable products like Osiris. “In the future, as regulations make right to repair a standard practice, there could be a perfect market for a product like this,” he says. Gabriel’s vision for the Osiris kettle goes beyond a single product; it’s part of a larger goal to create items that are both functional and eco-friendly, making it easy for people to choose products that won’t harm the planet.
A Step Towards a Greener Future
The Osiris kettle is more than just a well-designed kitchen appliance; it’s part of a movement to rethink how we use and dispose of everyday items. By creating a kettle that anyone can repair, Gabriel is taking a stand against the throwaway culture that has become so common. His idea is a small yet meaningful step toward a world where products are built to last, where repairable items are the norm, and where waste is reduced.
