Designer Rehan Petit has been awarded second place in Dezeen and Bentley's Start Something Powerful Competition for his proposal to cleanup oil spill using repurposed boat bumpers.

The global design competition invited architects and designers to envisage innovative concepts that could have a transformative effect on people's lives over the next 100 years.

Through the design contest, Dezeen and Bentley sought to discover prototypes that could serve as a blueprint for future living, anticipating the needs, technologies and lifestyle trends.

Called Bio-Fender, Petit's concept reimagines traditional narrowboat bumpers to serve a dual purpose: protecting boats while assisting to clean up oil spills in British canals.

The Bio-Fender would be made with biodegradable materials and use natural microbes to break down oil.

When the fender encounters oil, coconut coir absorbs the oil and brings it into contact with microbes that break it down into harmless substances such as water and carbon dioxide.

This natural cleaning process is designed to clean the water without the use of harmful chemicals or disruptive interventions, ensuring that the canal's ecosystem remains undisturbed and boaters can continue their activities without interruption.

By harnessing nature to clean the water, Bio-Fender would offer a practical way to reduce pollution in canals, transforming oil spills into opportunities for environmental restoration.

The proposal was selected by a panel of judges comprising designers and journalists from Bentley and Dezeen.

"Bio-Fender is a great example of utilising a product beyond its primary function," said Ben Saltmer, product and lifestyle design manager at Bentley.

"The secondary function of cleaning waterways offers a discreet, sustainable solution to a growing issue. This innovative and impactful solution aligns thoughtfully with the Start Something Powerful brief."

Read more about the proposal below:

Bio-Fender by Rehan Petit
London, UK
Second place

"Bio-Fender combines bioremediation with British canal culture by incorporating oil spill cleanup capabilities into boat fenders used by narrowboats.

"Given the prevalence of fuel oil spills in canal waters, there is a pressing need for solutions that align with the ecological ethos while maintaining the functionality for boat protection.

"By embedding biodegradable materials and bioremediation agents into Bio-Fender, the project aims to offer a dual purpose – sustainable intervention that actively mitigates pollution without disrupting the daily rhythm of canal life, thereby fostering an environmentally conscious community of canal users.

"When the Bio-Fender comes into contact with oil, the coconut coir absorbs the oil, bringing it into close contact with the bioremediation agents.

"These microbes then metabolise the hydrocarbons in the oil, effectively breaking them down into harmless substances like carbon dioxide and water.

"This process not only cleans the water effectively but does so without the use of harmful chemicals or invasive procedures that could disrupt the canal's ecosystem or the daily activities of its users.

"The beauty of bioremediation in the Bio-Fender is its simplicity and efficiency. It harnesses the power of nature to fight pollution, reflecting a sustainable approach to environmental management.

"By using bioremediation, we turn what could be a harmful pollution event into an opportunity for cleansing and restoration."

Dezeen and Bentley's Start Something Powerful Competition is a global contest that called for pioneering proposals that could have a powerful impact on how people live over the next 100 years.

Through the design contest, Dezeen and Bentley aim to discover prototypes that could serve as a blueprint for future living, anticipating the needs, technologies and lifestyle trends for the next century.

The contest received entries from more than 34 countries around the world. Eight designs were shortlisted and are in the running for a share of the £30,000 prize pot.

We are unveiling one finalist a day from 15 October, culminating in the winner being announced on 17 October.

The winner will receive a top prize of £15,000, while the runner-up will receive £10,000 and the third-placed entrant will receive £5,000.

Find out more about the Start Something Powerful Competition ›

Partnership content

The Start Something Powerful Competition is a partnership between Dezeen and Bentley. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.