01/30/2026
Dignity doesn’t disappear during disasters — at least not in Japan. When earthquakes or floods strike, evacuees are given raised cardboard beds instead of sleeping on cold shelter floors.
These beds are made from reinforced recycled cardboard, strong enough to support adults while remaining lightweight and easy to assemble. They can be deployed quickly in large numbers during emergencies.
Keeping people off the ground reduces the risk of infections, improves air circulation, and helps prevent hypothermia. In crowded shelters, this simple elevation can significantly improve health outcomes.
Some designs include cardboard partitions, giving families privacy in otherwise open spaces. That sense of personal space plays a major role in mental well-being during prolonged displacement.
This approach shows how thoughtful design can turn low-cost materials into life-improving solutions. Disaster response doesn’t have to be high-tech — it just has to be human-centered.
