makedo has emerged from a group of people who seek to inspire social change through playful creativity. We want people to see and inject new value into things that might otherwise be regarded as waste.
Our aim is to encourage people to use their imagination and see the creative possibilities in the reuse of everyday materials around them. Through this process we can redefine what’s considered waste. makedo is about sustainability, imagination, creativity, community and play.
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
‘Changes occur not initially by material modifications but by the direction of the immaterial, that is by: changes of thought, value, perception, meaning all effectively changing everything as mobilized by a thinking refracted through the lens of sustainability.’ - Tony Fry, Know Your Enemy: Defining the Problem of Unsustainability.
The core idea behind makedo is to inspire social change through playful creativity. makedo alters the perceived value of objects and materials by providing an accessible means of upcycling. This shift in perception is a critical step towards addressing the waste crisis we find ourselves in. makedo highlights a serious issue and offers a solution wrapped in a most digestible of forms – play.
Materials & End of Life
makedo defines itself by its reusability. Its core function, by virtue of its reuse, is to enable repeated reuse of so many other materials and objects. In addition, the constructions and creations made using makedo are inherently designed for disassembly, allowing their constituent parts to continue through their own product life cycle at end of life – a quality not shared by their sticky-taped and glued brethren.
A single material is used for all the pieces – Nylon 6,6 – which has been carefully selected for its functional qualities of flexibility and strength, thus allowing for extended reuse of the product. No additives are added to the material, furthering the possibility of recycling.
Whilst local-area recycling programs for Nylon are not widespread, the technology for recycling is available. As such, we provide a take-back service to ensure the material does not go to landfill and can feed back into a production cycle.
Contact us here to find out where to send parts.
Packaging
The primary packaging tube serves multiple purposes. Initially, the recycled card tube functions as a means of protecting goods in the post. This eliminates the need for over packaging the product during transport. The second and hopefully longest life of the packaging is as a storage unit for the loose components. The tube is purposely robust to sustain the impact of play. Should the tube not be used as the primary means of storage, it then becomes ripe for reuse as a makedo construction material. Finally, as an entirely paper based product, the tube can be recycled in virtually all local-area recycling programs.
100% recycled paper is used for all printed and paper packaging material.
Degradable PE is used for all polybags.
Carbon neutral
makedo products are delivered carbon neutral. Production processes are reviewed to reduce our embodied energy and what remains is offset. Our certified offset credits are derived from the Karnataka Renewable Energy Project in Southern India.
ETHICAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The ISO 9001 factory selected to produce makedo is ICTI certified. This means it has been independently audited to ensure toys are produced in safe and humane environments.
On a practical note, our China factory uses energy saving globes, sources recycled paper for all office use, recycles its rubbish and set its air-conditioner thermostat to 25.5°C (78°F) during summer.
SAFETY STANDARD COMPLIANCE
With functional requirements front of mind, makedo is manufactured to strict engineering standards to meet AU/NZS ISO 8124 child safety standards for 3+.
In order to comply with the standards, the various makedo components undergo stringent testing in the areas of Physical and Mechanical, Flammability and Toxicity.
Further to the testing undertaken to meet child safety standards, production is closely monitored by a leading 3rd party safety and quality assurance company. Production inspections and random sampling ensure a high and ever improving production standard.
environmental responsibility / social compliance / safety standards / quality assurance
