Students enrolled on the University of Palermo's Industrial Design degree course – coordinated by Professor Dario Russo and run by artists, Federica Ditta and Cristiano Pesca – have become involved in a sustainable project studying waste reduction with the Italian lens company Divel, entitled "The second life of the lens". Currently, every year, approximately 100,000 pairs of lenses which fail quality tests go to waste, and the project has looked at ways of using this waste material to reduce the impact on the environment.
Studies and experiments were conducted on Divel's waste lenses to determine how best to use the material with a new and innovative focus. The designers analyzed the interaction of the lenses with light and the characteristics of the light produced through reflection, refraction, diffusion and diffraction.
Two concepts evolved as a result of the different studies into these specific properties linked to light. The first, “Highlight”, represents a series of lamps which explore the different light effects and optical phenomena such as the belt of Venus and the aurora. The second project, “Fossili 2000” proposed bright objects made with waste lenses and a casting of resin.
“The Highlight series has helped to shed light on a major problem in lens production,” explained Selene Maltese, Marketing Officer, Divel Italia. “And the Fossili 2000 is a lamp that “freezes” lens waste (in casting resin), like amber jewellery. The idea is to present this lamp as a symbol to future generations with the hope that in a few years there may be tools to dispose of this material with a more sustainable outcome.”
In a statement, Divel Italia says it is continuing its collaboration with the designers and students of the University of Palermo. They told Mido organisers that they are building packaging and installations for the Mido exhibition 2020, all achieved exclusively with recycled and waste lenses.
Divel Italia will attend MIDO 2020 – Booth C01 D12, Pav. 3.