The Flipflopi Toolkit
Recycling solutions for remote communities

Research: Lessons learned

 

1. There are tonnes of resources online to conduct research on plastics at all levels. However, the key is to identify the right search terms to find the most relevant and accurate information. Spend time refining your keywords to ensure you get results that meet your needs.

2. Start with small tests: Always begin with small-scale experiments before scaling up. Testing on a small scale helps you identify issues early, minimising potential risks and costs. For example, we once moulded a large keel for a plastic boat, and when it fell half a meter to the ground during loading, it broke into pieces. Testing early can help prevent such setbacks.

3. Define your research question clearly: Ensure that your research question is well-defined, as this will guide your entire process. Try to explore different ways of describing the question or approach it from multiple angles. This will help clarify the problem and open up more avenues for discovery.

4. Think outside the box: Don’t settle for the first solution that comes to mind. Challenge yourself to develop 3-5 potential solutions. Thinking broadly and exploring multiple possibilities often leads to better, more innovative solutions.

5. Collaborate and learn from others: Engage with others in the industry—there may already be standardised methods that are effective and efficient. Learning from peers or experts can accelerate your research and help you avoid reinventing the wheel. However, also feel confident to question industry norms. Sometimes, widespread practices are the result of repetition rather than thorough R&D. Your insights and findings might lead you to innovate beyond the standard approach.

Two people undertaking stress tests in the Flipflopi workshop

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