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Final Report Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Team Description 2 Executive Summary 3 Value Proposition 5 Packaging: The Ease and Wastefulness of Modern Consumer Society 6 Function of Packaging: Protection, Communication, and Convenience 8 Evolution of Problem Statement 10 Solution - Part A: Partnering With (re)zip to Make Inconvenient Reusable Containers Convenient 14 Rationale for the Packaging Design 17 Solution - Part B: Novel Bulk Dispenser System to Customize Granola 18 Feasibility of a Reusable Container and Bulk Dispenser System 20 Risk Analysis and Mitigation Strategies 22 Appendices 24 Bibliography 29 1 Team Description 2 Executive Summary Packaging: The Ease and Wastefulness of Modern Society As we first attempted to answer “how might we eliminate the use of disposable packaging”, we found ourselves needing to define certain terms, packaging, being the most important of them. According to Rousakis and Weintraub, authors of Packaging, Environmentally Protective Municipal ​ ​ Solid Waste Management, and the Limits to the Economic Premise, packaging represents both, “the ​ ease and wastefulness of modern consumer society” because of its short life cycle. As a matter of fact, 90% of packaging is disposed immediately after use. All the chemicals used in the production of packaging are toxic, causing air and water pollution and contributing to the overall greenhouse effect and ozone layer depletion. Functions of Packaging Given the negative environmental consequences of packaging, why do we keep using it? Our research showed that packaging has three main functions: protection, communication, and convenience. Packaging protects the product through all phases of distribution and ensures that chemical influences like gases, moisture, light or microorganisms, don’t damage the product. Packaging is also used as a communication tool to provide information like nutrition and ingredients as well as a form of marketing. Lastly due to changing social trends, consumers are devoting most of their time to the workforce demanding more prepared, conveniently packaged food. Evolution of Problem Statement As we attempted to understand why consumers would choose disposable packaging given its negative consequences on the environment, we concluded that: consumers have an on-the-go ​ lifestyle in which convenience is prioritized over protecting the environment. We attributed ​ consumers prioritization of convenience over the environment to their lack of knowledge. However, research on consumers awareness of the impact of packaging on the environment showed the opposite. Our question then became “why do consumers keep purchasing food that comes in disposable packaging even though they are aware of its negative impact on the environment?” Research showed that while environmental concerns were considered very important, they were ranked fifth, preceded by safety, product shelf life, new labeling legislation, and consumer convenience. ​ ​ Convenience appears to be one of the most dominant forces in the food delivery system conflicting with environmental protection. Our problem statement then evolved to: There is a gap between the perceived benefit of reusable ​ containers and the practicality/convenience of it. The impracticality of reusable containers outweighs ​ its benefits. As Stilwell claimed in Packaging for the Environment, “convenience seems to outweigh ​ ​ people’s good intentions”. The question now became: How might Nature’s Path alter its packaging making it reusable, ​ practical, and convenient for the modern consumer? 3 Solution Our solution consists of two parts the first one being a reusable container and the second one a bulk dispenser system. Part A: Making the Inconvenient Reusable Containers Convenient Our main assumption when thinking of solutions was that reusable containers are heavy, they take up space, and they are not practical to bring - a lot of thought has to be put in beforehand. We were able to dump the assumption as we found (re)zip: “reusable storage bags made out of food safe, ​ FDA-grade PEVA material and the leakproof double-lock closure seals in freshness. (re)zip replaces up to 300 disposable bags.” Overall, (re)zip bags are light, they don’t take up space and are practical to bring - can be stored in backpacks, purses, etc. We chose (re)zip as a partner for Nature’s Path since they share the same corporate vision which is to make greater positive environmental and social impacts through their business activities. (re)zip is a certified B corporation and has partnered with Terracycle to dispose their products. Part B: Novel Bulk Dispenser System The second part of the solution consists of introducing a novel bulk product dispenser system to retailers for consumers to customize their own granola. Consumers will be able to find an interactive, touch display in the granola section in partnered retail stores where they will be able to build their own granola and then dispense it in their new reusable (re)zip bags. Risk Analysis and Mitigation Strategies The implementation of reusable containers and bulk dispensers may come with some risks thus we have highlighted some key areas to consider including customer resistance, health and safety issues, and retailer resistance and shelf space. Regarding customer resistance we have carefully chosen (re)zip because of its novel, lightweight, and easy transportability - ideal for the modern consumer. Regarding the health and safety issues we believe an effective way of preventing health concerns is by establishing a cleaning system for customers to sanitize their containers before dispensing food. As of now, we are still in the process of finding mitigation strategies for the resistance retailers may have regarding the shelf space that the bulk system may take up. 4 Value Proposition Our solution consists of two parts the first one being a partnership with (re)zip to adopt reusable packaging and the second one a novel bulk dispenser system for consumers to customize their own granola. By adopting the reusable (re)zip bags, we are making the inconvenient reusable containers convenient. What once seemed to be heavy, take up space and be not practical to bring like jam jars is now light and takes little to no space thanks to (re)zip. Prototype of what partnership with (re)zip might look like With the new reusable (re)zip bags consumers are now able to dispense their own customized granola in an interactive, touch display bulk dispenser system found in the granola section in partnered retail stores. Our solution not only provides customers a convenient alternative to reusable containers but also a different shopping experience with a customized product. With this two-part solution we aim to minimize the natural resources used in the production of packaging to leave the environment better than we found it. 5 Packaging: The Ease and Wastefulness of Modern Consumer Society Packaging is defined by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment as “all materials, fabricated containers and other components used in the containment, ​ protection, movement and display of a product or commodity. The environmental effects of packaging extend beyond disposal - resources and energy are consumed and pollutants are released during production and transportation of packaging.” ​ Photo retrieved from The Weather Network ​ According to Rousakis and Weintraub, authors of Packaging, Environmentally Protective ​ Municipal Solid Waste Management, and the Limits to the Economic Premise, packaging ​ “represent both the ease and wastefulness of modern consumer society” because of its short life cycle. As a matter of fact, 90% of packaging is disposed immediately after use. The book Packaging for the Environment estimates that packaging contributes 30% to 35% ​ ​ of municipal solid waste. This is no surprise given that in the late 1980’s Canadians consumed one ton of packaging per family per year adding up to a total of 6.6 million tones. In 1988, 5.7 million tons of this packaging were disposed in landfills, costing taxpayers over $100 million. As a result, natural resources were lost, valuable land was consumed, and pollutants were released. Even though packaging plays an important role in waste reduction compared to fresh food (1%-5% of packaged food goes to waste while 40%-50% of fresh foods result in waste), the 6 extracting and refining that takes place to make the packaging materials have impacts that are 150 times more severe than the impacts of disposal. The chemicals used in the production of packaging are toxic, causing air and water pollution and contributing to the overall greenhouse effect and ozone layer depletion. 7 Function of Packaging: Protection, Communication, and Convenience Given the negative environmental consequences of packaging, why do we keep using it? Packaging has three main functions; protection, communication, and convenience. ​ Protection One of the most important and critical functions of packaging is protection. In our globalized ​ ​ modern society, products must travel long distances to reach the hands of consumers. Thus, packaging serves the purpose of protecting the product through all phases of distribution ensuring the product does not lose its value. Packaging also serves as a post-purchase protection ensuring that chemical influences like gases, moisture, light or microorganisms, don’t damage the product. Photo retrieved from Nature’s Path Communication Consumers are heavily concerned about the content of their food, its origin, freshness, and safety as well
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