Karen McAllister - AGRIPA/STOR

Agripa was founded in 2000 by John and David Pitt and is full-service fleet advertising company with a client portfolio including some of the UK’s leading supermarkets, retailers and over 270 local authorities. The Agripa product is a communication mechanism using custom printed textile banners to advertise their clients’ messages on vehicles which travel throughout the UK.

Their clients change their message periodically which while it creates a regular income stream, also raises an interesting challenge: at the end of their ‘advertising life’ the banners are returned to Agripa and returned to Germany to ‘recycle’. Last year this amounted to 80 tonnes of material, their predicted business growth suggests that this will grow to almost 200 tonnes over the next 5 years. In addition to this, a change of manufacturer means that recycling is no longer an option.

The fabric used is a PVC coated polyester fabric with an open weave which does not breakdown naturally for hundreds of years. So the challenge with this project is to create a viable recycling solution which keeps waste to a minimum and can utilise the large amount of fabric available.

Agripa create large scale graphics for Vans and Lorries

Agrippa Product Cycle 1

Agripa Product Cycle 2

Increasing Waste

Agripa Material

Actual Waste Material

Material Testing

It was essential to evaluate the fabric’s capabilities. It is a very strong and durable fabric but due to it’s open weave structure, not waterproof without treatment, so it was important to identify what possible treatments were available and also how the material reacted when processed - by heat or sewing or it’s strength and stability when used in conjunction with other substrates, resins and fabrics.

During Testing, the substrate was heated, sewn, tested for strength, built up with layers, worked with resin and glues to see what the material was capable of. The important thing was to try to use the material with minimal additional work or materials to ensure that this recycling is not creating a more toxic product or a treatment that extends the time to biodegrade.

Concept Development

1. Stationery or Gift Items - By using portions of the Banner creates and interesting Graphic aesthetic, every item is unique. Freitas have already used this idea with their bags - Because of the material's hardy qualities, it would certainly lend itself to create a durable and interesting set of products

2. Seating - The Sheet material, without any treatment takes 100kg without tearing, by using strips of the banner with a simple wooden or metal frame can create interesting furniture

3. Back Support - when the banner is laminated using resin, or heat sealed, to between 8 - 10 layers, it creates a solid rip proof substrate that can be used as a support for the spine. One problem with this is medical trials, but this could be a foundation for a system for hanging a pocket system as in many cases, back pain is caused by mis carrying of our every day baggage.

Concept 1: Gifts and Stationery Items

Concept 2: Seating

Concept 3: Back Support

The Final Concept: Agripa/Stor

There are many causes of back pain, many of them related to poor posture and weak core muscles. Agripa/Stor is a supportive framework that allows the user to carry loads like shopping evenly throughout the body, spreading the weight evenly. The framework supporting the spine and back muscles.

There are many creative sectors who regularly have to carry a kit or load of some sort on their bodies and in addition perform extensive tasks under sometimes extreme conditions. Soldiers, paramedics, police officers, joiners and mechanics to name a few wear a framework, whether it is in the form of a vest, tool belt or garments which incorporate a storage system as part of the garment.