A unique recyclable packaging and transport system could help reduce the need for private autos and taxis.

Imagine being able to pick up a big or bulky purchase, or all of your weekly shopping and be able to get it home on foot - pulling it on its built-in wheels. And then being able to disassemble the dolly and recycle it along with the box. Pretty cool, eh?

One of the entries in this year’s James Dyson Award competition is called Move-it, and it looks to be an extremely useful invention for people in cities, especially those without a vehicle or bike with a trailer. A handle and wheels are attached to the box or object for transportation, and the resulting unit becomes easily maneuverable and instantly portable.

Having used a dolly in and around warehouses for years, I can see that the design behind the Move-it is a sound one, and the recyclability of the materials is a huge plus. But will it catch on and become available? It would seem that the retailers would be the ones supplying these to customers, and not something that the customer brings with them to the store.

Check out this quick video:

“Move-it is a simple kit of self-adhesive cardboard parts, which the user sticks on to a cardboard package, turning it into a lightweight, easy-to-use trolley. It consists of a set of wheels and two different types of handle. A combination of these components allows the user to move boxes of almost any size and shape up to 20Kg.”

”The idea of Move-it is to enable people to shop in a spontaneous way, then deliver their goods themselves, without having to struggle, rely on cars, vans or taxis, or wait-in for deliveries. The system is designed for a typical trip across the city and can even cope with rain and wet pavements. Once home Move-it can be recycled, or reused.”

Without knowing what the costs and impacts associated with making or recycling cardboard are, I don’t know how to truly measure how this would affect the ‘footprint’ of a single purchase or single household, but at heart, it seems to make sense for areas with larger numbers of pedestrians. I live in an area where it’s virtually impossible to live without a car, but for city residents without vehicles, and those using public transit and walking, the Move-it appears to be a way to make some things in life a little easier.

”What makes Move-it truly unique is that every single part is cardboard. Wheel, axle, chassis and handle can all be mashed up at the recycling facility and made into new cardboard products; and the special repulpable contact adhesive that sticks the wheels and handle to the box is designed to disperse harmlessly in water.”

I’d love to see these made from 100% recycled cardboard, but if most of these end up being recycled, then I think it would be a win. And as a dad, I know that if I brought one of these home, my kids would turn the pieces into a number of inventions and structures, for hours and hours of play, before they ever hit the recycle bin. So maybe there’s another angle to explore with this. (Transforms into a baby stroller? Hmmm...)

Check out the Move-it and the rest of the innovative entries at the James Dyson Awards. Winners will be announced there on the 5th of October.

”About the James Dyson Award: The James Dyson Award is an international design award that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers. It’s run by the James Dyson Foundation, James Dyson’s charitable trust, as part of its mission to inspire young people about design engineering.”