The Philippines’ national winner of the 20th James Dyson Award, SolAsin, addresses the nation’s struggling salt industry and the absence of sustainable livelihood opportunities for coastal residents. Designed by UP Diliman industrial design student John Carlo Luna Reyes, the small, sun-powered system utilizes seawater and sunlight to create high-value flaky salt—providing communities with a new, convenient means to revive a formerly flourishing livelihood.
The Problem
Even after the passage of the Salt Industry Development Law, the Philippines continues to import 93% of its salt, a stark sign of how the once-thriving local salt industry has deteriorated. Climate change, lack of technology, erratic government assistance, urbanization, and reclamation of coastal lands have disrupted the traditional salt farming. Successive generations over time also lost interest, with coastal communities struggling to keep intact what used to be a main source of livelihood.
The Invention
SolAsin is designed as a compact and sustainable alternative to traditional salt beds, which require vast land and capital. Using only filtered seawater, sunlight, and occasional remixing, the device produces premium flaky salt—highly valued in small batches by restaurants, hotels, and even tourists. Reyes refined the invention through prototypes, field testing, and consultations with local residents and officials, ensuring it is both usable and income-generating.
Words from the Judges and the Creator
James Dyson Award judges commended SolAsin for its simplicity, scalability, and social impact, pointing to how it leverages community input and local resources.
Dr. Jaine Cadoc-Reyes of UP Los Baños referred to it as a shining instance of design empowering people.
Melvin John Dela Peña of Dyson observed that SolAsin is a reflection of Dyson’s problem-solving culture through iterative design.
To Reyes, the prize is greater than personal accolade: “This is a victory for the communities that inspired SolAsin. My aim has always been to design with and for the people, and this award allows me the chance to further grow the project so that it can really uplift local salt farmers.”
The Runner-ups
ChillWise: Lightweight foamed concrete, heat storage materials, and agro-waste such as rice hull ash are used to make energy-efficient cooling panels that regulate indoor temperatures passively, lowering the need for expensive air-conditioning.
Lambooply: A composite material of bamboo and Lampakanay fibers with non-toxic adhesives, which is strong enough to use as a substitute for imported wood in construction and design.
Both innovations move alongside SolAsin to the next round of the James Dyson Award, where they will be competing internationally.