OXO's well-known angled measuring cup receives an update that blends sustainability and ease of use, proving the brand's dedication to producing kitchenware that is more environmentally friendly.
OXO uses three primary Design for Environment principles when developing its kitchen products: durability, meaningful use, and aesthetics. In a recent interview, senior product manager Ilana Rosen and senior director of industrial design Sunny Kim discussed the redesign of OXO's iconic measuring cup, which was introduced more than 20 years ago and now has a new look and improved user experience.
More significantly, the OXO Good Grips Angled Measuring Cup symbolizes the company's general goal of creating classic, long-lasting goods with recycled materials that reduce environmental impact. 50% of the materials used to make the new cup are recycled.
The Story Behind OXO’s Measuring Cup Redesigning:
Redesigning the angled measuring cup is part of a larger plan to use a single visual brand language to connect OXO's wide range of products. According to Rosen, this design update also took strength and utility into account.
For example, in the previous design, painted measurement lines would scratch and wear over time, rendering the cup useless. The update "speaks to our focus on sustainability," according to Rosen, who explains that the new encapsulated measurement markings are protected from the cup's contents and will not fade, allowing consumers to use their cup for longer before replacing it.
The redesigned measuring cup also prioritizes usability: by upgrading the handle to be more comfortable, lifting and pouring will be a more enjoyable experience. "We conducted a lot of ergonomic reassessments, but the original design was done fairly well," Kim says, using OXO's long history of producing kitchen products that are properly helpful, such as swivel peelers and julienne peelers. "The handle is no longer 90 degrees, allowing you to pour from different hand positioning and leaving more space for people with larger hands.
Keeping an Eye on Sustainability:
By utilizing recycled materials in their redesigned measuring cup, OXO has shown that their dedication to sustainable practices goes beyond an idle trend. "People's awareness of the harm single-use plastics cause and the harm we've done to the environment has grown over time," says Rosen. "It's become a much bigger focus for us as attitudes have changed, and it's changed who we are as people and as a company."
In order to design durable products, OXO now looks for sustainable materials. One such substance is TritanTM Renew. Testing revealed to OXO that it is a great substitute for Tritan, the plastic that OXO used in its angled measuring cup. Rosen claims that Tritan Renew is stunning material. "It's made through molecular recycling of plastics—50 percent of it is recycled content, but it looks and works exactly like regular virgin Tritan [plastic]."
OXO’s Commitment to Sustainable Materials:
It's difficult to reach such high standards. Rosen notes that the R&D team has put in considerable effort and that Tritan Renew is the only recycled content food grade material that they have found to date that satisfies OXO's practical requirements, quality, and durability standards. We will not move forward, she says, "if we discover that a material won't last as long as the original or meet our performance requirements." Building long-lasting products is the most efficient approach to lessening environmental impact, since most of a product's impact is incurred during the raw material processing and product manufacturing stages.
Therefore, even though Tritan Renew is currently in the spotlight, OXO is always looking for new ways to incorporate recycled materials into their designs, no matter how small. "It could be as tiny as an OXO logo composed of recycled plastic, or it could be the inner workings of a handle that you are not aware of. "Our goal is to be as beneficial as possible whenever we can."
Encouraged to implement more environmentally friendly practices in your kitchen? In respect of Earth Day, consider the following advice:
- Use a compost bin to put your food scraps to good use.
- Skip excess packaging and store bulk dry goods in airtight containers.
- Ditch disposables and paper products in favor of microfiber cloths.
