A Good Razor : A sustainable and gender neutral design proposal for a manual hair removing device for the entire body

Sammanfattning: The razor industry is a worldwide industry where the vast majority sell multi-blade razors. These are sold in a business model that pushes production prices so much that it harms the environment. The construction of the product and industry does not allow recycling therefore a huge amount of waste is generated that is incinerated or ends up in a landfill. In addition, razors are highly gendered in a way that inhibits gender equality. This degree project was carried out at A Good Company, Stockholm, where the goal was to develop a razor that would be useful for everyone and fit into a circular economy. Resources should be kept in a loop to minimize the environmental impact and external factors such as transport and energy use should be minimized. Background research and analysis resulted in three potential solutions that were tested and evaluated. The tests consisted of user studies and construction analysis. Based on identified needs from users, the planet and industry, the solution became a multi bladed razor that use the older industry standard double-edged razor blade. Using these blades, the only thing on the razor in need of replacement is the blades themselves as the user mounts these themselves. A pair of torsion springs is used that allows for the head to tilt. Both the razor blades and the springs are made purely from steel, this allows for easy recycling. Furthermore, the springs can be reused in new products due to their lengthy life span. The handle has a shape that is comfortable to hold and the razor itself provides a comfortable shave where the main functionality of cutting hair is not compromised. The product is made entirely from a completely bio-based and compostable material that is manufactured and procured locally and responsibly. With a good material hygiene, remanufacturing and recycling becomes quicker and easier. The entire product is thus completely recyclable and minimizes the ecological footprint and fits into a circular economy. The final product is a detailed design, with specified materials, colouring and manufacturing methods that embodies A Good Company’s values and brand voice. Before the product is put into production, details need to be further iterated and optimized.