What it does
This portable filter bottle offers a sustainable solution for water-scarce areas. Modular algae filters remove heavy metals and purify water easily. With 5 detachable strips, it's ideal for travel, outdoor use, emergencies, and health-conscious hydration.
Your inspiration
The global water crisis affects over 2 billion people lacking safe drinking water. Industrial pollution causes heavy metal contamination, leading to 1.8 million deaths annually. I realized clean water is not just an environmental issue, but a human right. Inspired by algae’s natural ability to absorb heavy metals, I designed a portable, low-energy bottle with five detachable algae-based filter strips. Easy to use and sustainable, it transforms unsafe local water into safe drinking water, offering a low-cost solution for communities without access to clean water.
How it works
Filter Bottles breaks the limitations of traditional water filters with its modular, user-friendly design. The core filtration system is divided into five pre-sealed filter strips, cleverly embedded inside the bottle’s packaging. This saves space and enhances the product’s integrated aesthetic. Without touching the filter itself, users activate the device simply by tearing the outer wrap and pulling a hygienic string to install the filter into the cap. The algae-based bio-adsorption material inside efficiently removes heavy metals and harmful substances, offering a more sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical filters. The sealed design prevents secondary contamination, and the pull-string mechanism improves hygiene by eliminating direct contact. This design redefines portable filtration with its “ready-to-use” approach, meeting urgent needs for clean water in outdoor, emergency, or polluted environments.
Design process
As university students, we were challenged to rethink how people in low-resource areas access clean water. We started with hand-drawn sketches and made early models using recycled bottles and 3D-printed parts from our school lab. Our goal was to create something simple, sustainable, and easy to use. Inspired by algae’s natural ability to absorb heavy metals, we tested different bio-filter materials in class experiments. The first prototype had external filter slots, but users had to touch the filters, which raised hygiene concerns. We redesigned it: five sealed filter strips now hide in the bottle’s outer layer. Just tear and pull a string to install the filter—no direct contact, no tools. We iterated based on peer and teacher feedback, adjusting the sealing, improving filter efficiency, and testing in real outdoor scenarios. This project taught us how design can respond to global issues like water insecurity. With each version, we focused on low cost, hygiene, and ease of use—values that matter when design meets reality
How it is different
What makes Filter Bottles unique is its integration of algae-based bio-filtration with a modular, contactless design. Unlike conventional filters that rely on electricity, pumps, or manual replacement, our design embeds five sealed filter strips into the bottle’s outer layer—users simply tear and pull a string to activate a new filter, without touching any component. This ensures hygiene, portability, and ease of use. The algae material not only absorbs heavy metals effectively but is also biodegradable and renewable—unlike synthetic filters. Its pre-packaged system avoids contamination before use, and each strip extends the bottle’s filtering life, making it ideal for resource-limited or emergency environments. Our solution turns the water bottle into a low-cost, low-energy filtration system, empowering users to access clean water without infrastructure. It’s a new model of sustainable design where biology, packaging, and function converge.
Future plans
In the future, we aim to refine the algae-based filter material for higher efficiency and longer lifespan through lab partnerships. We plan to develop refill kits and adaptable caps to fit various bottle types, expanding accessibility. Field testing in rural and disaster-prone areas is our next step to gather real-world feedback. We also hope to collaborate with NGOs to distribute the product in water-scarce regions. Ultimately, we envision Filter Bottles as a scalable, affordable solution that empowers communities to access clean water sustainably.
Awards
We have been shortlisted for the 2025 IDEA (International Design Excellence Awards) in the United States.
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