The French start-up company Lactips started in 2014 with the purpose to tackle the problem of environmental waste. In order to do this they produce water soluble and biodegradable thermoplastic pellets based on milk protein. Those pellets are used as a raw material for thermoforming, film, or any kind of plastic applications. You have probably seen their soluble film for dish detergent, which is fully integrated with the product – there is no need for the consumer to remove the packaging. So now the company has taken another exciting step in the global packaging development. They have developed an edible plastic packaging for the food industry, created from milk protein (casein).

By Kristina de Verdier on 11 April, 2017 In Design, Edible, environment, Innovation, Material, milk protein, packaging, sustainable

The Big Book of Packaging “In light of the recent lift in environmental consciousness, this volume of the Big Book Series will devote one third of its content to the increasingly important subject of green packaging-showing designers and retailers how to package their products creatively, responsibly, and at low cost, factors that will be reflected in the books own packaging/binding as well.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 28 March, 2011 In book, Books, environment, packaging, sustainable

Nike is releasing an Environmental Apparel Design Tool. “This tool is about making it simple for designers to make the most sustainable choices right at the start of the product creation process. Over the past four years it has proved to be invaluable at Nike and has helped us create products with a higher sustainability standard,” said Hannah Jones, Vice President of Nike Sustainable Business and Innovation. Have a look here

By Kristina de Verdier on 9 December, 2010 In design tool, Designer Tools, environment, environment tool, nike, responsible

El Designo made brand identity for the concept store Carbon Boutique. The store is named Carbon to show a sense of community. Carbon is the one element on the periodic table that is responsible for all organic life. Everything is linked by this one element: people, trees, the planet. The store is a place for people to come together, share ideas, and find healthier alternatives for their homes and their lives. Everything is completely tree-free, using only certified 100% post-consumer waste recycled papers. This is the first store of its kind in Edmonton, a high end, custom designed eco-store that carries everything from zero-VOC paint to organic cosmetics.

By Kristina de Verdier on 6 December, 2010 In canada, carbon boutique, concept store, el designo, environment, online store, Shopping Bags, Store Concepts

Swear Words made this design for Green Eggs; “For the Greens, freshness and quality are the most important things, along with environmental sustainability and the happiness and welfare of their hens. Green Eggs are for people who share these values and want to supply the best products to their homes and customers, whilst supporting regional Victorian food producers. We were asked to re-brand and package Green Eggs to communicate these values, and to have some fun in the process. Check ’em out at all discerning eateries.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 29 November, 2010 In box, egg, environment, fiber, Food, greeneggs, package, Paper, sustainable, swear words

Tired and confused of all green choices you should make? Organic, bio, eco, environment friendly products everywhere? Who can you trust? Green choices not convenient, too bad quality and too expensive? Too much work? Consumer Reports writes about green fatigue: “You know you suffer from green fatigue when you hide the empty jelly jar in the trash, rather than rinse and recycle. Consumers now push back, and they are right to question whether green products are better for the environment. Many green products found on store shelves are guilty of green washing, according to TerraChoice, an environmental marketing agency. Moreover a recent report from GFK found that more and more people think green products are too expensive and they don’t work as well as conventional products.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 11 November, 2010 In confusion, consumer report, environment, fatigue, green, green washing, Sustainability Information

From Adam Paterson and Santi Tonsukha – students of the Royal College of Art have made ‘GrowYourOwn’ – Fruit and vegetable seeds for novice gardeners. Simple and Well designed graphic printed on sustainable materials.

By Kristina de Verdier on 15 July, 2009 In adam paterson, Design, environment, Garden, graphics, green, packaging, santi tonsukha, seeds, sustainable

Boisset introduces Fog Mountain Merlot in a 1-L PET bottle. I recommend you to read through the article on Greener Package. You will see some statements about sustainability, which as always will give you different answers depending on who you ask. Boisset in this case, claims that the PET bottles have a smaller carbon footprint than comparable glass bottles and require less energy to produce, ship, and recycle. A big driver for these companies is of course cost – amount of material – which in many cases also drives environmental impact. A 1-L Fog Mountain Merlot PET bottle contains 33% more wine than a standard 750-mL glass bottle, even though the two bottles are similar in physical size. Interesting! I have always found it so interesting that the icon of a traditional wine bottle is so strong, that even if new technologies enable more efficient distribution – it’s hard to make a change. Consumers have a strong power whether this will be a success or not.

By Kristina de Verdier on 24 June, 2009 In Beverages, boisset, carbon footprint, environment, glass, Material, packaging, PET, wine

Ecolect is a great site for green materials. They have initiated a service called Greenbox, which is great too! You sign up (pay $849.95) and every 3 months, you get a collection of 8-12 cutting-edge materials, shipped direct to you. Innovative and environmentally friendly material – ideal for design, engineering, and marketing teams. The samples will highlight trends that other material producers are setting, and serve as inspirational and informational reference for people working with product development.

By Kristina de Verdier on 17 June, 2009 In Designer Tools, ecolect, environment, greenbox, Material, subscription, Sustainability Information