Sustainable Packaging

100% recycled, FSC certified Ekar board.

To package responsibly we

Recycle material

Whenever possible we will use recycled materials to reduce raw material production and transport as well as removing potential waste going to landfill.

Digital print with antiscruff lamination.

To package responsibly we

Optimise Packaging

Packaging must protect the contents and provide information for the end consumer but by reducing the overall volume of the package we reduce material use and transport costs (energy).

100% recyclable, plastic free card box and fitment.

To package responsibly we consider

The full life cycle

From biodegradable to recyclable the materials chosen to construct the packaging are vital to its sustainability. Mixed materials should be easy to separate for recycling.
We can play a part in minimising the packaging that can't be recycled by considering the full life cycle of each element at the design stage.

The Problem

In the UK each year we produce 170 million tonnes of waste a year.

66% goes to Landfill
33% is Recycled

If we look at packaging alone things look better.

32% to Landfill
68% is Recycled

Recycling is only part of the solution

We believe we can still do better! Much of the environmental cost of our throw away wrapping is upstream, in its manufacture.
Unbleached cotton totes to give to staff and clients. Unbleached cotton totes to give to staff and clients.
The media is the message! The media is the message!
Classic tote bag in black for The Whiteley, London. Classic tote bag in black for The Whiteley, London.

How design can tackle the problem

Well-designed packaging which is easily recoverable, or can be reused, minimises environmental impact and generally reduces costs. There are five major packaging requirements and for each we apply a sustainable design goal.

  • Contain - minimise component parts.
  • Protect - reduce wasted space.
  • Preserve - deconstruct material specification.
  • Handling - maximising recyclability and recovery.
  • Presentation - optimising pack size.

Packaging as a system in a circular economy

We need to look at all stages of the product lifecycle. Packaging should be reimagined as a complete system in order to minimise waste, maximise positive economic, environmental and social impacts as well as lock our resources in a cycle of restoration.

  • Design
  • Production
  • Distribution
  • Use
  • Recovery

Design strategies for reducing environmental impact

At every stage of the design process we need to question our assumptions and, without compromising functionality or reducing efficiency of the product supply chain ask ourselves.

  • What materials are used?
  • How much packaging is used?
  • How easy is it to recycle?
Fit for Purpose
Packaging protects the products and reduces the risk of damage or product waste.
Remove
Challenging if packaging is needed at all to protect a product and deliver it safely, in good condition to the end user.
Re-use
Looking at options to reuse the packaging.
Reduce
Opportunities to use less material through design, specification and weight of material.
Recycle
Designing packaging so that it can be efficiently recycled.
Recycled Content
Specifying recycled content will reduce the demand for primary raw materials and generate demand for recycled material.

How Think Tank Can Help

Think Tank Creative can design and produce packaging with sustainability at its core. We can review your existing packaging and suggest changes to enable maximum use of sustainable materials and removal of non-recyclable elements.

We work to the principle of Emotionally Durable Design. Emotionally Durable Design is a branch of sustainability. It aims to encourage creatives to reduce the consumption and waste of resources. It tackles this by placing the relationship between users and their products at the forefront of the design process.

Emotionally Durable Design is about both a sustainable approach to packaging and the development of a new relationship between the consumer and product.

Emotionally Durable Design

The sustainability crisis is a behavioural issue, and not one simply of technology, production, and volume. The deliberate shortening of product lifespans is unethical, both in its profit-focused manipulating of consumer spending, and its devastating ecological impact through the nurturing of wasteful purchasing behaviours.

The Think Tank design team is fortunate to include alumni of the University of Brighton where they had the chance to learn and embrace the concept of Emotionally Durable Design directly from its developer Dr. Jonathan Chapman. Emotionally durable design explores the idea of creating a deeper, more sustainable bond between people and products.

"The idea is to use product and brand as talking points; the product is a conversation piece that creates a lasting connection between the business and its customers and, ultimately, increases loyalty to the brand and drives sales." Says Chapman.

Emotionally durable design can be an alternative that will be able to reduce the consumption and waste of resources by increasing the resilience of relationships between consumer and product, presenting a more expansive, holistic approach to design for durability, and more broadly, the lived-experience of sustainability. [Source: “Design for (Emotional) Durability” Jonathan Chapman]