India uses over 800,000 disposable plastic meal trays per day. 99% of these trays end up in landfills.
These trays are made up of a mixture of polymers, the main component being Polypropylene (PP), which makes it non-recyclable.
The brief that was given to us by the client was to find an environment friendly replacement which would address the present issue of the plastic disposable meal tray as well as add to the consumer experience. The client is an urban, health-food delivery company which primarily targets the fitness-aware population residing in the technology capital of India, Bengaluru.
We were not only looking at an ecologically conscious packaging design but also a befitting functional product that would enable the storage, transport and support of Indian cuisine.
There were two aspects associated with the design of this disposable Meal Tray:
The material and the process: The main consideration was to make sure that the product was biodegradable as well as cost-effective so as to enable easy manufacturing and efficient large-scale production. A composition of 71% cornstarch and 29% PP was used for the same . The mixture made the product completely eco-friendly. The trays were manufactured using the process of thermoforming.
The Form and Communication: The product needed to possess a certain degree of familiarity while still holding its own ground. There were grooves placed along the edge as well as between compartments so that the various elements of an Indian meal (often gravy-based) would not mix or spill. The natural colour of cornstarch was kept intact. The form was made softer and more rounded, keeping in mind the brand language. A single line of text, informing the consumer of their decision to use a eco-friendly product, was added. This text and well as the logo were debossed. The lip extensions followed the brand language and enabled the user to remove the lid with ease.
Through this packaging design, we aim to bring together innovation, an understanding of the Indian psyche as well as a large-scale solution to the persisting issue of plastic waste management.
Company: Smartpaddle Technology Pvt. Ltd.
Designer: Nayana Gupta
Manufacturer: Windsor Industries Pvt. Ltd.
Location: India
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