Vazu: a Flatpack Vase
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.26.07
Did we say we like flatpack? This vase is no thicker than a piece of paper when flat. Fill it with water and it takes shape and is very stable. Tel Aviv designers T.H+E have engineered and manufactured it out of layers of polyethylene and polyester to be durable and cheap, in three different shapes and sixteen models. It really is deceptively solid and attractive. It is plastic, but for small spaces, when the flowers die you can file it. ::Vazu only fifteen C$ at ::edaas in Toronto, where the shelving system is made from old refrigerator doors mounted on the wall and must be seen to be believed.
How is this "treehugger" material? Polyethylene and Polyester are HUGE contaminants to the environment. Just because it's durable, quick and easy doesn't make it environmentally friendly.
Just curious why this is here?
I would say this thing would have a compressed thickness of several sheets of paper (obviously at least two), not one sheet of paper. journalists should avoid baseless hyperboles, thanks.
Thank you for introducing me the Vazu vases.
Following this, I have found and contacted Adama (Adamadesign, the authorized distributor in North America, located in Canada). The product is sold very well in my store, thank you again for this recommendation.
David
I have also bought some Vases from Adama-Design ( www.adamadesign.ca ).
The Vases sell graet in my store and the company provide me with a great service as well.
Is adama design the only distributor of the Vazu? on the packege there another web address - of an Israeli company named T.H.+E.... who should I contact to buy the vazu if my store is in Toronto?
Beth: Adama-Design (www.adamadesign.ca) sell the Vazu in Canada. I believe you should contact them to buy this product.
I’m from VazuUSA, the official distributor of Vazu products in the United States. I wanted to comment on the first entry by Tina.
In order to judge how “green” a product may be, we have to consider the environmental “cost” of the entire product lifecycle. At first glance, a glass vase may seem more environmentally-friendly than an expandable plastic vase. But, that doesn’t account for energy used in the largely coal-fired furnaces to melt and form the glass at very high temperatures, and then the fuel oils used in transporting that empty, heavy glass vase from China to the US. The reusable flat-pack Vazu, depending on exact product line, takes up 1/50 to 1/135 of the space and weight of a traditional glass vase on its trip from Israel to the US. Once it’s here, the Vazu continues to use less space on the retail shelf and in the home than a glass vase, as well as being non-breakable if dropped.
In many cases, the energy and natural resources used in a product’s creation and distribution outweigh the energy and natural resources used at the consumer and end-of-life levels. Not that it isn’t important for everyone to do their part to reduce their impact on the earth, but it’s equally important to understand the full lifecycle impact of your decisions.
Our website is www.vazuusa.com, if anyone is interested in learning more about the Vazu.