Task 5

1) London Bio-Packaging: http://www.londonbiopackaging.com/

A. How many take away meals were consumed over the course of the 2012 Olympic Games?

14 million take away meals were consumed over the course of the 2012 Olympic Games. 

B. How much waste to landfill were Olympics organisers expecting to have to go to landfill?

8,500 tons of waste were expected to go to landfill, they succeeded in diverting 6,330 tons from landfill. 

C. How many pieces of packaging were needed for the games and by supplying these what did LBF help the games achieve?

120 million pieces of packaging were required for the games, by supplying this, the LBF helped the 2012 Olympic Games achieve the zero waste to landfill policy. 

D. Take a moment to look around their site.

• How many stages are there in their ‘closed loop’ system? The closed loop system bridges the gap between, 'making', 'recycling' and 'composting'. There are 5 stages, these include = 

1. Supply, 
2. Dispose, 
3. Collect, 
4. Process, 
5. Re-use. 

• What happens at each stage?The company ensures that every single piece of packaging is either recycled or composted, and turned back into packaging ready for reuse. 

• Is this appropriate for this company? If ‘yes’ then please explain why you think so.Yes, because it enables the company to successfully supply packaging to both larger and smaller companies and businesses. 

E. Look even further around their site. LBP use a wide range of materials.

• What are ‘bioplastics’? Is there anything that can explain further the oil and carbon savings? Bioplastics are plastics which are made from plants; specifically from the starches found within them. On this section of the website, it identifies oil and carbon savings in a written paragraph, this is additionally supported by an 'eco animation' that provides a visual example of the oil and carbon savings in bioplastics in comparison to normal 12oz plastic cups.  

• Look at the other materials LBP use. Could you order these in terms of most sustainable , explain why you’ve ordered them like this on your post.

1. 
   

F. What is 'PSM' and what are it’s key properties? Why is this useful?

'PSM' stands for 'Plant Starch Material',  this is a flexible bio-based material which is produced from renewable crops (i.e. potatoes and corn) and is suitable for biodegradable cooking utensils (i.e. cutlery) as it is heat resistant. 

G. What is sugar bagasse and how might it be turned into packaging?

Sugar Bagasse is the waste material produced from harvesting sugar cane for the sugar syrup, packaging is created from this through processes of heating, pulping and pressurised moulding. 

H. Pick one other material listed and explain what it is and what it’s key properties and considerations are.
Palm Leaf is a natural product that is both biodegradable and compostable, the wholeleaf product is simply a washed and pressed leaf as they have no starch or pulp. The palm leaf is between 2-4mm thick and they vary in colour and pattern.

2) WRAP: http://www.wrap.org.uk/

A. First watch this short video from Wrap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XIDmiYctUUg

B. Back to their website - Who are Wrap? Describe what they do in a paragraph.


C. What commercial sectors do they deal with and ‘why’?

D. Do they deal with the idea of'a circular economy? If 'yes' how do they aim to tally with these ideas?

E. What are Wrap’s 3x key priority areas and what do they aim to do in these?

F. Download the excellent ‘Packguide:'A guide to Packaging Eco Design' at: http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/GG908_final_linked.pdf

G. Now take 10mins to look the guide through – there’s LOADS of good background refs in here!

H. Look at section 4: Design for Re-Use, Recycling and Recovery.

• Describe 3 key considerations within 'design for re-use'.
• Describe 3 key considerations within 'design for recycling'.
• Describe how effective Metal, Glass, Paper and Board and Plastics are and which (in your eyes) of these may achieve the‘most effective’ award for recyclability.

3) INCPEN: http://www.incpen.org/

A. Who are incpen and what do they do?

B. Are they the same as WRAP? If ‘no’ then what do you think the key differences are?

C. Now watch this related video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB09rDeRxJo

D. After watching the video: 

• Where do you stand on packaging in supermarkets? Is it a good thing or otherwise?
• Are there ways in which it could be improved (if ‘yes’ then how?).

E. Do you know what you can recycle domestically after you’ve eaten/drank all those goods you (or your family) buy from supermarkets?

• Does your Council or university offer up recycling options? If'‘yes’ then what are they? Could they be improved upon at all in some way?

F. See'Library'>'Factsheets, browse through these and pick one that you feel has the most bearing on the project that you’re doing on this module.

• Why do you feel this fact sheet is appropriate for your main project?

G. Now take a moment to watch this related video: http://www.ted.com/talks/tristram_stuart_the_global_food_waste_scandal

H. After watching the film, do you feel that better designed packaging that uses less resources etc is the only way to improve the way we consume goods – especially food?

4) Food For Thought:

A. Coke and packaging

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7vny5zLhp0

B. Clever Little Bag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwRulz8hPKI

C. UPS Courier – Sustainable ''Packaging'' video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcX3EWc_Z6c

D. Plastic wine container:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to2d4JFBSC4

E. Coke Plant Bottle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzO_7sp8ce4

F. Local sustainable packager:

http://www.biopac.co.uk/

G. For each of'the above, write the title of the video and then 3x observations or more on your blog entry.