Let’s Unpack This: Packaging redesign of the zigzag / rivekant corner tear as a means to prevent litter

Abstract

Plastic pollution comes frequently in the form of litter or trash that is scattered away and into places it does not naturally belong such as oceans, lakes, forests, streams, and despite its commonality, urban areas. The most familiar litter is that of food packaging from beverage bottles to snack bags. Interestingly enough plastic-based food packaging is a fairly young invention that hasn’t existed longer than a century on this planet, yet it has done a tremendous amount of damage to our environment already. This litter is supposed to find its way into the waste management cycle where it is processed and handled by disposal facility professionals. Unfortunately this and general rubbish doesn’t end at these disposal facilities due to a combination of consumer behaviour, mismanagement, and poor design. The aforementioned consumer behaviour of contributing to litter pollution is assumed to always be intentional; however, contrary to this belief it can also be unintentional. This report proposes an emphasised need for proactivity towards plastic-based packaging design and consumption in addition to repositioning our attitudes toward the long-lasting plastic material to our advantage rather than viewing it as single-use. I believe such an approach can close the gap between the unintentional negative consumer behaviour and design that encourages said behaviour. My report will convey this in the form of design research, ideations, and redesign drafts through my skills and perspective as a product designer followed by critical feedback and discussion.