Halia

Cosa fa?

Halia is a therapeutic system for asthma care that improves treatment adherence and reduces environmental impact. It combines a sustainable inhaler, a smart app, and guided interaction to support the patient through every step of medication use.

La tua ispirazione

The idea came from analyzing two critical issues: only 15% of asthma patients follow therapy correctly, and over 150,000 kg of single-use plastic are produced annually by inhalers. We aimed to address both the clinical and environmental problems by rethinking the inhaler as a system that integrates sustainable packaging, guided interaction, and digital support. Halia is our design response to a real challenge: connecting health, sustainability, and therapeutic awareness.

Come funziona?

Halia consists of a paper pulp shell, a reusable plastic mouthpiece, a removable drug vial, and a connected app. The user inserts the vial into the molded pulp body, secures the cap and the mouthpiece, and inhales the medication. A built-in analog puff counter tracks usage. The app, Halia Sync, connects via NFC and guides the user through the correct inhalation process with personalized instructions, reminders, and visual feedback. During onboarding, the app adjusts to the user’s pathology, prescription, and experience level. The mouthpiece is designed for home sanitization (boiling water, 30 minutes), ensuring hygienic reuse. The molded pulp body features a tear-tab opening system for tamper evidence, embossed instructions, and Braille. Each refill is sold in a new paper-based shell, minimizing plastic waste. Halia ensures better adherence, intuitive use, and reduced environmental impact, without compromising medical reliability.

Processo di progettazione

The project began with an in-depth analysis of asthma treatment inefficiencies and the environmental impact of single-use inhalers. Research included clinical data on patient adherence, common inhaler misuse, and plastic waste statistics. We studied pharmaceutical packaging trends and sustainable material innovations. From there, we developed initial sketches and system concepts, followed by prototyping. Our first prototypes explored molded pulp as the main structural material, testing compositions such as paper, cornstarch, and rice to find the optimal balance between formability and drying time. We 3D-printed PLA molds to shape the pulp components and tested tolerances, assembly, and sealing. Parallel to physical prototypes, we designed the Halia Sync app, developing an onboarding flow and UI tailored to different user profiles. User testing helped refine the ergonomics, the puff-counting system, and the breathing tutorial. We optimized accessibility features (Braille, embossed info) and validated domestic sanitization of reusable components. The result is a holistic product-service system that merges environmental care, therapeutic support, and inclusive design.

In che modo è differente?

Halia stands out by addressing both patient experience and environmental sustainability in a single, integrated solution. Unlike conventional inhalers, which are mostly single-use plastic and often confusing to operate, Halia offers a guided, accessible therapeutic experience with a reusable mouthpiece and sustainable molded pulp packaging. It includes embossed and Braille instructions for inclusivity and a tear-tab tamper-evident system. The Halia Sync app adapts dynamically to each user, offering personalized reminders, breathing tutorials, and progress tracking. While some products improve sustainability or usability separately, Halia combines both through thoughtful material selection, intuitive interaction, and a modular system designed for long-term behavioral change. No other inhaler currently offers this level of integration between physical device, packaging, and digital support.

Progetti per il futuro

Future plans include developing integrated accessories such as spacers and customized mouthpieces, and adapting the molded pulp packaging to other pharmaceutical products. We aim to expand the Halia Sync app into a connected ecosystem that supports therapeutic adherence across different treatments, enabling communication between multiple health-related devices and services. This evolution would turn Halia into a scalable platform promoting sustainable and patient-centered care.

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