Staples names winners of eco challenge

NEW YORK Staples announced the winner of the inaugural Staples Global EcoEasy Challenge, a search among universities from around the world to find the next environmentally preferable office product. The team from University of New South Wales in Australia was awarded the $25,000 grand prize for their concept “The BIND.”

Staples, in conjunction with the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability, created the program to challenge students from leading technology institutions worldwide to develop either a new design of an existing product that represents greater environmental responsibility or sustainability; one that uses an eco-innovative material; or a completely new product that promotes sustainability. The program received more than 60 submissions, and seven teams from five countries traveled to New York City to compete for the grand prize. The winner was announced during an event at the New York Academy of Sciences.

“The Staples Global EcoEasy Challenge represents innovation at its best,” said David D’Angelo, SVP Staples Brands Group. “By listening to the bright minds of some of the world’s top engineering students, we saw exciting and unique ideas that support our commitment to sustainability and to delivering quality products that make office life easier.”

Team Aunswera (A University of New South Wales Environment Realization Alliance) members David Chau, Christopher Chare, Farhan Qureshi and Kai Cen won the $25,000 grand prize for their concept, “The BIND.” The BIND stands for Binder Interlock Neat Device and represents an innovative tie-and-ring-system for organizing documents both in the office and at home. The BIND’s innovative locking mechanism provides users with a flexible and reusable alternative to products like binders, paper clips and cable ties.