No more feeding your kids on your lap at the in-laws resulting in half their meal landing on your lap! Last year, Melbourne based designer Betul Madakbas launched a small run of the Belkiz Feedaway, a portable highchair made from sturdy recycled Visy cardboard. Due to the great reception and selling out stock, Belkiz have just launched the 2010 Feedaway in their new colour – red. Betul designed the highchair as a short term use chair that can be easily folded up and transported to (or stored at!) the in-laws, friends houses, holiday houses and used whilst travelling. 
The high chair conforms to the Australian Safety Standard Framework developed by the Infant and Nursery Product Association of Australia (INPAA), and is INPAA approved. Now available at State of Green: RRP: $39.95.
Okay Okay I here you all gasp and question how durable can a cardboard highchair be and how does it cope with the inevitable drips, drops and spillages that children leave during snacks and meals. Well, the surface is coated with a non toxic food grade coating, which can be cleaned with a warm wet cloth. The chair has up to 60 days usage at 6 feeds a day, and can take the weight of toddlers up to 20 months old or 20 kgs. With the exception of the three point harness, the chair is 100% recyclable at the end of its use. 
It is also 100% made in Australia – a winner!
Betul Madakbas
Betul shared a few insights into her business and life in our “Seven Statements” interview….
1. I started my business because… I came up with an idea, googled it, couldn’t find it, but wanted it, and therefore thought that I should create it my self. This was in May 2007…if only I knew then that it would take me 2.5 years to pull it off… but finally the Feedaway is selling and Belkiz is onto her next product. I have an other company called Base-Line (graphic) that I started 11 years ago when I immigrated from The Netherlands to Australia as I thought it would be nice to design what ever I wanted and not work for a boss. Base-line is still going in the background creating all sorts of designs.
2. I admire.. . my parents most for all they did in their lives and the love they gave me and my sister.
3. My style is… totally all over the place. I like lots of different styles and things, preferably combined. As long as the basics are plain but all the details highly colourful and full of character.
4. My favourite annual event is… when my sister comes to Australia to visit us during the Christmas period. She lives in Norway (…out of all places…)
5. I love to ……. spend as much time as possible in the water, in the waves and in Tasmania. I love surfing, windsurfing, Stand Up Paddle surfing, Kiteboarding and all things in the ocean.
6. My easy eco living tip is… think twice before you buy something and see if you can make it from something you already have or from something you would have trashed otherwise. Well..there are heaps more, but that’s my main tip at the moment.
7. In the next year I hope to… come up with ideas for heaps more eco products, while I’m walking on the beaches in Tasmania. Or maybe have a few twins….
Thanks Betul! We look forward to your new eco ideas coming to fruition!
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