The environmental conditions of the last decades have generated a paradigm shift in the world of design. This is how business models They have changed under the pressure of new generations that are more environmentally conscious and responsible. In this way they have mutated from a product-oriented position towards one characterized by customization of products and services.
In this sense, designers understand that consumer decisions are a primary value. To respond to this change of thought we must also adopt the same ecological commitment. However, even though it seems that companies make every effort to be ecologically responsible; the truth is that their actions are minimal. Generally the reason for the low commitment of companies is related to their perception of costs that generate the development of environmental actions and / or policies.
For this reason it is up to designers to support the development and production of sustainable products. Contrary to what our executive colleagues think, designers know that an efficient design that has been designed in a sustainable way can lower production costs and improve the overall image of the brand.
However, it is not enough that we simply design green. It is necessary that we raise the whole product production process with sustainable awareness. Essentially, we must plan each product transformation scenario carefully to minimize the carbon footprint generated by such a production process.
Here are some examples of sustainable product design or materials:
Screemin 'Reels Ipa
The brewery Saltwater Brewery developed a packaging biodegradable and edible to group the beer packs. The rings of beer packs have always been a threat to marine animals, now they are food.
Mushroom fiber packaging
La mushroom fiber it is a new compostable material, very durable and of sustainable production. It is currently used as furniture but companies like Ikea plan to innovate by using it for their packaging.
Pangea Organic Soaps
The soap brand Pangea Organic designed the packaging of its products with a vision of zero residue. In this way they integrated seeds basil to the walls of the paper pulp box, which is biodegradable. Then to plant the box the consumer also gets a plant.
A luxurious example of upcycling is Fitzroy's "From Waste to Wasted" rum packaging. Its cap is produced from melted Coca-Cola labels.
Kjaer Weis products
The brand Kjaer weis is the perfect example of product design for the reused or refilled. In this way, it has designed highly aesthetic and functional products to be filled later with a refill cartridge. So you can exchange different cosmetic products in a single container.
Bamboo paper bottle
Jim Warner designed the paper bottle from bamboo fibers and other biodegradable materials. It is easy to use and allows multiple design applications.
This Too Shall Pass
This packaging project was designed by the Swedish studio Tomorrow Machine. It is a series of food packaging where packaging has the same expiration date that the food containing. One of them is that of olive oil where the material is sugar and beeswax, when the container is broken to let the product out, the beeswax stops protecting the sugar and can be disintegrated with water.
Ecopal pencils
Ecopal pencils are created from non-biodegradable materials that were to be disposed of as municipal waste.
