The Nature as an Inspiration to Encourage Users to Extend the Life of Packaging

Abstract

Biomimicry depends on three key principles: nature as a model, nature as a goal and nature as a mentor. By studying nature, there may be several answers to challenges that have already been solved by nature. A growing challenge is that a lot of packaging gets produced and thrown every day. Few studies have emphasized on the structures and construction of nature as a source of inspiration in the design process taking the life cycle of packaging into account. Hence, the problem statement was as follows: How can fruit structures be used as an inspiration to encourage users to extend packaging into a long life product? The research methods consisted of a case study based on a survey, in-depth interviews and an idea workshop. The results of the survey identified some factors consumers emphasized when thinking of packaging, and acted as an input to the idea workshop. It was conducted an in-depth interview with the development manager at Lilleborg, a company that develops products for cleaning and personal hygiene. This collaboration gave a deeper understanding of the design process of packaging while also identifying important factors for packaging. The idea workshop used fruit as a source of inspiration and resulted in sketches of new ideas to the development of innovative packaging. The conclusion was that this study expanded the understanding of how students can use research methods and natural structures in biomimicry in their design education to develop long lasting packaging.