Powdered Soap Dispenser Wins Circular Economy Innovation Prize

© 2025 EPFL

© 2025 EPFL

The graduate course “Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering” brought together students from various fields of study at EPFL to tackle prototyping challenges focused on developing devices for a circular economy.

Led by School of Engineering professor Véronique Michaud and Prof. Thomas Weber, and supported by a diverse group of additional lecturers, seven student teams worked on industrial challenges in collaboration with industry sponsors, including JCDecaux, LEM, Logitech, NAOS, POMOCA, and ZF Group. Alongside designing innovative technological solutions with viable business models, this year’s challenge emphasized prototyping devices that adhere to well-defined circular economy principles, emphasizing the efficient use of resources to achieve the same—or more environmentally friendly—outcomes. The winning team, in collaboration with NAOS, developed a functional prototype of a watertight dry-soap dispenser that offers significant advantages aligned with circular economy goals.

The “circular economy” has become a vital concept in an era defined by the climate crisis, driving industries to reduce the environmental footprint of their technologies. Beyond energy efficiency, a circular approach involves rethinking how devices are designed, manufactured, and managed throughout their lifecycle to minimize waste and maximize resource reuse. Companies often face challenges in implementing innovative circular solutions due to operational constraints, significant investments, or uncertainty about market acceptance. To address this, multiple sponsors presented project ideas to students of the EPFL graduate course Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering (IEE). The central challenge was: How can devices be designed to not only meet technical and functional requirements but also align with circular economy principles?

In the 2024/25 course, offered jointly by the College of Management of Technology (CDM) and the School of Engineering (STI) since 2019, seven teams developed proof-of-concept prototypes addressing technical challenges while creating business plans that are both economically and ecologically sustainable.

Team 1: JCDecaux - 3D Printing for Street Furniture

Students: Sebastien AZEVEDO (GM), Omar BOUDALI (GM), Côme Gaëtan Marie GAILLARD (GM), Omar ILYASSA (GM), Benoit PRUDHOMME-LACROIX (GM), and Basile Corentin THIERCELIN (GM).

Industry partner: Thomas MOREL (JCDecaux)

In an effort to help transform urban infrastructure, the team collaborated with JCDecaux to design sustainable bus shelters using advanced 3D printing techniques. By incorporating recycled concrete and steel, the project embraced circular economy principles to enhance both durability and environmental sustainability. The result is modular bus shelters that are cost-effective—significantly reducing production costs compared to traditional methods—and eco-friendly, with a focus on lowering carbon emissions and material waste. These shelters feature customizable components that adapt to diverse urban environments, offering practical and visually appealing solutions. The project highlights key advancements in material selection, design flexibility, and production efficiency, paving the way for urban furniture that supports sustainability and enhances cityscapes.

Team 2: JCDecaux - Bus Shelter from Recyclable Composites

Students: Melvin Matthieu ARNOLD (MX), Bora BULUT (MX), Martin COCOUAL (SIE), Rémy Alfred GRANGE (GM), Victor Lambert LEGENDRE (GM), Aymeric Alain Guy RIO (GM), and Sena TÜRKER (MX).

Industry partner: Thomas MOREL (JCDecaux)

To tackle the environmental challenges posed by traditional bus shelter roofs, the team collaborated with JCDecaux to develop “CompRoof,” a recyclable composite roof system. This innovative design integrates sustainability with urban infrastructure by using polypropylene reinforced with flax fibers, emphasizing recyclability, a reduced carbon footprint, and alignment with circular economy principles. The modular and environmentally friendly roof system not only lowers production costs but also significantly reduces urban carbon footprints. Designed for easy installation and maintenance, CompRoof offers a scalable solution that meets the growing demand for sustainable urban development. Through thorough market analysis and sustainability assessments, the team demonstrated the potential of CompRoof to deliver environmentally responsible solutions for cities worldwide, representing a significant step forward in sustainable infrastructure.

Team 3: LEM International – Voltage Transducer Optimization

Students: Vincente Annibale GALDINI (GM), Veronika PAK (GM), Julien TERRES (MX), Juliette Vergine VILDÉ (GM), and Bora YALCIN (GM).

Industry partner: Dominik SCHLAEFLI (LEM International SA)

To improve the sustainability of voltage transducers, Team 3 collaborated with LEM to reduce the environmental impact of its flagship DVM 4200 transducer model. The team focused on redesigning components and processes to significantly lower the product's carbon footprint. Key innovations included reducing potting resin usage by 40.8% and switching to bio-based polyurethane, which could cut emissions by up to 48.5%. They also introduced a circular economy approach to production, targeting an overall carbon footprint reduction of 61.3%. By incorporating end-of-life recycling and refurbishment strategies into the product lifecycle, the project addresses both immediate environmental impacts and long-term sustainability goals, setting a new benchmark for eco-friendly design in voltage transducers.

Team 4: Logitech – Recycle Hub for Discarded Peripherals

Students: Damien DELESPAUL (GM), Alessandro FERRANTE (GM), Pablo MENÉNDEZ RUIZ DE AZÚA (IN), Siham Mikou (MX), Pierre VINET (MT), and Léo WOLFF (MTE).

Industry partner: Stéphane ROCHAT (Logitech)

With its Recycle Hub initiative, the student team tackled the pressing global issue of electronic waste (e-waste) management. In collaboration with Logitech, they developed a technology-driven solution to efficiently recycle electronic peripherals. The system combines machine learning for product categorization with repurposed 3D printers for automated disassembly, enabling the recovery of over 90% of raw materials, such as plastics and metals, for reintegration into production cycles. This innovative approach significantly reduces environmental impact while meeting market trends and regulatory requirements. Designed as a scalable model, the project demonstrates how sustainable practices can align with technological innovation. Robust financial projections further highlight the economic viability of the system, paving the way for a future where recycling is both practical and profitable.

Team 5: NAOS - Powder Dispenser Packaging

Students: Josua BUBENZER (GM), Maximilian CASAGRANDE KULCKE (MX), Jorge COLIO ZARDOYA (MX), Mateja ÐERIĆ (GM), Zheyao LUO (MX), and Marta REIS SANTOS (MTE).

Industry partner: Jéromine KALFON (NAOS)

Innovating in the personal care industry, the team, inspired by a challenge from NAOS, developed "Powderful," a refillable powder dispenser designed to significantly reduce single-use plastic waste. Aligned with circular economy principles, the project addresses the inefficiencies of transporting water-heavy products. "Powderful" incorporates a durable, airtight dispensing mechanism made entirely from 100% recycled polypropylene sourced from ocean-bound plastic, enhancing both sustainability and user convenience. The dispenser is designed to protect water-sensitive powders in humid environments, ensuring product integrity and ease of use. Comprehensive market analysis and lifecycle assessments confirm its commercial viability, offering an innovative solution that combines environmental responsibility with a practical, consumer-friendly design.

Team 6: Pomoca - Recyclable / Reusable Climbing Skins

Students: Corentin Marie BARUT (GM), Nicolas DEBROT (GM), Anaëlle Florence FREY (MX), Romain LATTION (GM), Charles Joseph MALMASSON (MX), and Pauline Marie Constance Simone NICOLAS (GM).

Industry partner: Fabien DUC (Pomoca)

The team collaborated with Pomoca to tackle the environmental challenges posed by the disposal of ski skins, which are difficult to recycle due to their complex, multi-layered construction. They proposed three innovative strategies to improve the recyclability of ski skins. The first strategy repurposes discarded skins into small-scale accessories like ski straps and keychains. The second option is to produce high-value items such as slippers made from shredded ski skins, extending the material’s lifecycle. The third, more ambitious approach focuses on redesigning ski skins to simplify future recycling efforts. Each strategy aligns with Pomoca’s sustainability goals, offering creative solutions that reduce waste and promote circular economy principles in the ski industry.

Team 7: ZF-Group - Battery Refurbishment for Circular Economy in Commercial Vehicles

Students: Giacomo Alfredo AGLIO (GM), Nicolo Piergiovanni BAGNOLI (GM), Louis DESAULES (GM), Mathilda Myriam Aïda Souad HENOUD (EL), Eugenio Maria SERAFINO (MTE), and Huiyun ZHU (MTE).

Industry partner: Marco EID (ZF Group)

The team, in collaboration with ZF, developed a transformative solution for the circular economy in commercial vehicles by focusing on battery refurbishment. This innovative project, named “Boosted Batteries,” offers a sustainable and cost-effective model for retrofitting internal combustion engine vehicles into electric vehicles (EVs). Utilizing refurbished batteries and a proprietary Smart Battery Management System, the project minimizes initial investments and integrates maintenance and energy costs into a predictable tariff. This approach significantly extends the batteries' lifespan and supports circular economy practices by reusing lithium-ion cells, reducing waste, and cutting CO2 emissions. The team aims to retrofit 200 vehicles in the first two years, potentially expanding to 10,000 vehicles over a decade, with projected revenues of €35.75 million. This initiative not only addresses sustainability goals but also facilitates affordable fleet electrification, marking a major step forward in sustainable commercial transportation solutions.

2024 IEE Prize – Results

The jury evaluated the projects based on the quality of their business cases, the functionality and feasibility of the prototypes, and the overall professionalism of the presentations. After deliberation, the 2024 IEE Prize for the best project was awarded to Team 5 for their innovative “Powderful” project, developed in collaboration with NAOS. Their solution combines a durable, airtight mechanism made from 100% recycled ocean-bound polypropylene with a consumer-friendly design. By preventing waste, reducing the inefficiencies of water-heavy product transportation, and ensuring product integrity in humid environments, “Powderful” exemplifies how circular economy principles can merge environmental responsibility with commercial viability, leading to substantial environmental benefit.

This year’s runner-up was Team 7, recognized for their transformative “Boosted Batteries” project, developed in partnership with ZF. The team tackled the challenge of fleet electrification for commercial vehicles by proposing a sustainable battery refurbishment system. Their solution repurposes lithium-ion cells and integrates a proprietary Smart Battery Management System to retrofit internal combustion engine vehicles into electric ones. This model extends battery lifespans, reduces CO2 emissions, and incorporates costs into a predictable tariff structure, making electrification more accessible and cost-effective. With plans to retrofit 200 vehicles in two years and scale to 10,000 within a decade, “Boosted Batteries” offers a scalable and impactful solution for sustainable commercial transportation.

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The course was supported by experts from EPFL and beyond, who contributed their expertise in prototyping, economic evaluation, and sustainability assessment. These included (in order of appearance): Prof. Chris Tucci [Imperial College London]; Dr. Danick Briand [LMTS, EPFL]; Dr. Yves Leterrier [LPAC, EPFL]; Dr. Martyn Wakeman [LPAC, EPFL]; Prof. Manuele Margni [HES-SO Valais]; Alexander Meyer zum Felde [Partner, BCG]; and Dr. André Catana [Venture Builder, EPFL]. The course was coordinated by doctoral student Ru Zhang [OES, EPFL], with Ilona Ball [OES, EPFL] providing administrative assistance.

The instructors express their gratitude to the Vice-Presidency for Innovation, particularly Sébastien Genet [VPI, EPFL], for facilitating industry relations, as well as Pascal Vuilliomenet [Discovery Learning Laboratories, EPFL] and Julien Delisle [Coordinator, MAKE Initiative] for introducing students to EPFL's hands-on prototyping facilities.

Special thanks are extended to the two expert members of the jury: Dr. Marc Laperrouza [Scientist, CDH, EPFL], who has served on the prize jury since the course’s inception, and Carlo Giardinetti [Sustainability Lead, Deloitte Consulting], who played a key role in Deloitte’s initiative to create the Circularity Gap Report Switzerland.

The instructors are deeply appreciative of the generous support provided by the participating companies and their engaged managers, who dedicated significant time to mentoring the students: Thomas Morel (JCDecaux), Dominik Schlaefli (LEM International), Stéphane Rochat (Logitech), Jéromine Kalfon (NAOS), Fabien Duc (POMOCA), and Marco Eid (ZF Group).

Finally, the course would not have been possible without the backing of Prof. Ali Sayed [Dean, School of Engineering, EPFL] and Prof. Rüdiger Fahlenbrach [Director, College of Management of Technology, EPFL], who jointly provided the financial support for the student projects.

References

Master course "Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering (IEE)" – jointly offered by STI and CDM

In the 2025/26 Fall semester, a new edition of MGT-555 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering will take place under the theme of “AI-POWERED INNOVATION,” organized jointly by Prof. Thomas Weber and Prof. Véronique Michaud.