Overview
Date
September - December 2019
Skills
Ideation, concept development, prototyping
Software
Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Animaker
Grade
1st
Collaborators
Anais Engalmann, Dedun Oyenuga
Role
Video production, graphic drawings, system concept
'This ideation involved proposing a new design for an existing packaging product and its systems to improve its circularity and sustainability footprint; in this case, we looked at the design of an Itsu Noodle Pot.'
There is a severe lack of space in landfills in today’s society, due to the amount of unrecyclable, general waste. Furthermore, when food waste is left to rot in these sites, the lack of oxygen means the decomposing food produces methane, a greenhouse gas 20x more potent than carbon dioxide. We aim to target these issues by rethinking how food waste could be managed in the future.
We want to redesign food and ready meal packaging that encourages correct disposal of the food waste, using natural and sustainably farmed resources.
What is The Lotus Box?
The Lotus Box is a packaging system that would be introduced into office blocks, using natural and compostable packaging to reduce food waste.
Lotus Box Flow Diagram
How does it recycle food waste?
The Lotus Box contains natural and compostable lotus leaves which allows it to break down into biomass, which can be used for fuel and materials.
Lotus leaves also contain hydrophobic coatings, which prevent food contamination, and is shown to have better stability and perfection of its water repellency. Lotus leaves were chosen over traditional banana leaves typically used in Asian culture, since they grow very fast in comparison, and contain more desirable hydrophobic characteristics.
There is almost no waste in growing the lotus leaves, as aquaponics would be used to grow the plants. It uses 10% less water than traditional soil agriculture, and there is no toxic runoff and leaching as the aquaponics system is a closed-loop.
The lotus leaves would be in a symbiotic relationship with the fish below, where the fish create ammonia-rich waste, which is converted into nitrates by the naturally occurring bacteria. The lotus leaves absorb the nitrates as nutrients and fertiliser and grow to full size in 4-5 days.
How would it be implemented?
1. Collection
The user collects their ready-made lunch in a Lotus Box.
2. Disposal
The user wraps leftovers in the lotus leaf and removes it from the bowl.
3. Collection Points
Food bundles are deposited at collection points on each floor, to be collected and disposed of by waste management
4. Reuse
The bowls are brought back to the cafeteria to be reused the next day. They don’t require much cleaning due to the coating and lining.
To see the full report, click here:
The Lotus Box - Ethan Chow, Anais Engalmann, Dedun Oyenuga (2020)
