It was developed by engineer and industrial designer Marina Guzmán, a former Elisava student and collaborator of The NeverRest Project.
Last November 12th, our collaborator at The NeverRest Project, engineer and industrial designer Marina Guzmán, a former student of Elisava, presented her SUNMIT, winner of the Eco-Design Award 2025 in the young designer category, together with our CEO and founder, Frédéric Kauffmann, at the Palau Robert in Barcelona, organized by the Agència de Residus de Catalunya and FAD Barcelona.
Both surprised the audience by sharing key insights about life at Everest Base Camp during the expedition season, when around 2,000 people inhabit it for two months, generating approximately 4,000 liters of urine every day, which are currently discharged directly onto the Khumbu Glacier.
SUNMIT is a tent made from recycled nylon, equipped with a flexible, rollable solar panel. It is designed for high-altitude expeditions in extreme conditions. The panel has a lifespan of about twenty-five years and can charge up to 11 mobile phones, 2 laptops, or power 8 LED bulbs for 6 hours. It weighs just 1.5 kg and can be easily carried inside a waterproof case.
Marina Guzmán’s innovative contribution points the way toward regenerative, more conscious and responsible high-altitude tourism, emphasizing the choice of materials used and the management of the waste generated. The solar energy provided by SUNMIT eliminates the need for batteries, which are highly polluting when left behind in the mountains.
Find out more about SUNMIT in our first concept of Sustainable Everest Base Camp.