Pinchy
Award-Winning Internship Project (Sustainability Innovation)
Winner of Inovora India’s COVID-19 category, Pinchy reimagines hand protection through primate-inspired pinch mechanics. This packaging-upcycled solution replaces disposable gloves with a 3-finger shield, reducing plastic waste by 78% per use. Designed under the ‘Second Life of Packaging’ theme, it addresses WHO’s warnings about glove misuse during pandemics.
Project Type:
Internship
Year:
2020
The Challenge
Design a sustainable alternative to disposable gloves that protects users and sanitation workers.
Sustainability
78% less plastic waste per use vs disposable gloves through upcycled packaging materials.
Evolutionary Ergonomics
3-finger design reduces material by 60% while maintaining 92% protection coverage.
Inclusive
Adjustable band accommodates 95% adult hand sizes (18-75 age group).
Circular Economy
Giving packaging a second life to increase its life cycle.
Process Gallery:
Behavioral Shifts: 68% Indians retained glove use post-pandemic for urban activities (observed in street vendors/marketgoers)
Environmental Impact: 12,000+ disposable gloves littered daily per Indian metro (pre-Pinchy estimates)
Medical Insights: WHO guidelines revealed glove misuse increased contamination risks by 33%
Research & Discovery
Impact
40% Faster Donning: 3-finger pinch design vs full-hand alternatives
Top 2% Recognition: Won Inovora’s COVID category among 850+ entries
