Cardboard Crapper Wins Design Award

[george]

Cardboard crapper wins design award

By John Le Fevre

BANGKOK (thaivisa.com): -- An emergency toilet made from biodegradable corrugated fiber board has won the second Environmentally Friendly Products Design (2nd Eco-Design) awards.

Held to raise awareness among students, designers, the business and industrial sectors of environmentally friendly product designs, the 2nd Eco-Design awards was hosted by the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC).

Designed for use during periods of natural disaster, the Bt80 (about $US2.35) corrugated dumper is being supplied by the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department of the Interior Ministry to victims in the three southernmost provinces.

Science and Technology Minister Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich said she was satisfied with all inventions that made into the final round of the competition and said her ministry will continue to support the annual contest to help solve global warming issues and heighten awareness of people on the environment.

Winners of the various categories will receive trophies from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

-- thaivisa.com 2009-08-10

[Harcourt]

Any further info on these? Are they a single-use item? One presumes they are waterproof, yet how do they remain environmentally friendly if not biodegradeable? Are they a "potty" or a mobile outhouse?