For the past two weeks, I received feedback for my overall research presentation and which design paths that I need to follow. It was a challenge for me at the beginning because I did not get any feedback from experts and the design concept that I was aiming for was still general. On Monday, October 26th, 2020, I interviewed Moaa’th who is an Accounting and finance at Canfor Company via phone call. During the interview, he was able to answer all the questions. The most important part of the interview was talking about how paperboard is the most consumed product in China since Canfor company exports bale sheets to them. Also, Finding a replacement material for paperboard packaging, and he wanted me to inspect hemp paper. To see the full interview of Moaa’th please click on the following attachment:
After finishing the interview, I began to set up a miro board and start brainstorming and analyze which material can be suited to replace paperboard packaging. Moaa’th recommended looking at hemp paper and examine the difference between hemp and pulpwood. From here started to do lots of research about hemp paper’s definition, its history, how it is impacting the environment, and its packaging system. In the following figure (1), It shows my mind mapping process.
Then I read an interesting article about the next steps on the journey for sustainable Hardware. This article talks about google’s consumer hardware team to share its goals of achieving sustainability. In 2022, they are certain that their products can be made from recycled materials. They mentioned all plastic recycled and renewable hardware products must be at least 50%. Also, in 2025, looking at plastic-free packaging which can include 100% recyclable and 100% plastic-free. As well as, most zero-waste product certification to their hardware products which can identify that waste can be recyclable.
From this article, I was certain that hemp paper packaging can be a perfect fit instead of paperboard packaging because of its eco- friendly environment, renewable, biodegradable, reducing the effect of deforestation, recyclable, less cost, and does not require bleaching during hemp paper processing. Please see the following attachment that demonstrates hemp paper research:
In addition, The following video represents the same viewpoint of the article that talks about the designer’s role in sustainable packaging. One of the designers of Metsa board mentioned a great valid point to consider which is to minimize packaging waste and move to sustainable packaging. When designing sustainable products, we can also consider the weight and size of the packaging product, packaging must be recycled and reusable. Please see the following video that explains briefly the designer’s role in sustainable packaging:
int the following images, based on research and the interview I start to develop some sketches, and these sketches are based on looking at the shape and form of food packaging. According to Moaa’th and science direct, most paperboard packaging is used on food and beverages.
Also, I am hopefully going to contact BC Box manufacturing LTD and crown packaging to ask for a paperboard box packaging sample so I can experiment with different shaped packaging.
Sources
About us. (2020). Crown Packaging. Retrieved November 4th, 2020 from: https://crownpackaging.com/about-us/
Products. (2020). BC Box Manufacturing LTD. Retrieved November 4th, 2020 from: https://www.bcbox.ca/capabilities/products/
How can packaging design help us do better with less? (n.d). MetsaBoard. Retrieved November 4th, 2020 from https://www.metsaboard.com/Media/Trends-and-inspiration/Pages/How-can-packaging-design-help-us-do-better-with-less.aspx#
Bourne, D. (October 26th, 2020). Our next steps on the journey to sustainable hardware. Google. Retrieved November 4th, 2020 from: https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/sustainability/our-next-steps-journey-sustainable-hardware
Duncan, S. Hannah, S. (2012). Light-protective packaging materials for foods and beverages. Science Direct. Retrieved November 4th, 2020 from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/paperboard