Depot

Illustration by @eshakespeare

We all know the burden packaging waste has on the environment, people as well our economy, with materials discarded after such a short use. That’s why we love packaging waste innovator saveBOARD who design building materials made from discarded beverage packaging such as cartons and coffee cups.

Thrown away and deemed to no longer have a purpose, saveBOARD have found ways to collaborate across sectors to prolong the use of materials and prevent them ending up in landfill. With both industries working towards targets of reducing waste and integrating recycled content, it’s a great example of cascaded material use- diversifying how and where materials can be re-purposed.

“Making high-performance low-carbon building materials using 100% recycled materials from everyday waste is a game-changer that will transform the construction industry in Australia.”

SaveBOARD’s new materials will go on to substitute plaster boards, particle boards and are made by using heat and compression to bond the materials eliminating the need for adhesives creating a cleaner product. In an ideal world, consumer packaging would be designed in a way that it can be easily recycled back into packaging, but as we transition to more circular packaging systems and designs, it’s great to see innovative solutions that repurpose our current ‘hard to recycle’ everyday packaging materials.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

Illustration by @eshakespeare

This November global leaders are gathering in Glasgow for COP26, the most significant event perhaps of humanity. The UN believes the conference to be “the world’s last best chance to get runaway climate change under control”. Quite the stark wake up call. But what does this mean for brands trying to navigate the sustainability requirements that now face organisations? 

A lot of the dialogue around ‘net zero’ to date has been focused on energy and looking at transitioning to renewable sources. But the consumption conversation is often overlooked, and it’s a biggie. Achieving our climate targets can only be done if we transition to renewable energy while we create a circular economy for materials and products to address the 70% of greenhouse gas emissions that come from how we produce everyday goods (Circular Gap Report). 

So, when it comes to packaging, that means looking at the holistic ways we can:

• Design out waste and pollution
• Keep materials in use for as long as possible
• Regenerate natural systems

Combined, these three principles will help us to rethink the materials we use, how they’re produced, used and how we can start to create value beyond single use. Defining a clear sustainability strategy will be critical for brands to help mitigate the risk of climate change and provide a clear path to inform packaging design. 

Our Friends of the Earth thoughts are brought to you in collaboration with philo & co.

philo & co are a circular design consultancy helping creative agencies and brands transition to a circular economy. Pippa, the Founder of philo & co, is a Circulab certified circular design consultant and has more than 10 years’ experience within the creative industry working with global design agencies and leading FMCG brands.

Pippa brings a holistic view in solving the systemic challenges required to transition from linear to circular design by embedding regenerative thinking and practices into the heart of organisations. In 2020, she became a Climate Reality Leader following training by the Climate Reality Corps, led by Al Gore. When Pippa is not thinking of how to rid the world of waste, she is usually at the beach or enjoying a hearty meal (and wine) with friends.

Teamwork is dreamwork.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

In most cases packaging plays a vital role in how we protect and safely distribute products. But the spotlight is firmly on organisations to demonstrate how they are addressing packaging waste and leading on climate action. So, what can brands do to drive innovation and achieve their sustainability targets?

A great place to start is within production. Digital printing is offering a promising approach to achieving sustainability goals. It drastically reduces packaging waste, as you only produce what you need thus avoiding the creation of unnecessary excess packaging. It also avoids the need for the lead times associated with analogue printing, and all the plates, cylinders and calibration drastically improving speed to market through reduced print run timings. Combined, it’s estimated digital printing could reduce supply chain waste by up to 26% and reduce the process carbon footprint by anywhere between 65-80%.

With so many brands working towards sustainability goals and up to 51% of shoppers wanting to buy more sustainably, it also provides a flexible medium to influence positive behaviours and clearly communicate a brands’ sustainability message to strengthen engagement.

The race to regenerate is on, we’d love to help you realise your sustainable packaging goals.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

We stumbled across Andi Li’s algae-based lipstick concept and were blown away with the holistic thinking and creativity behind what is inherently such a problematic piece of packaging.

Conventional lipstick packaging is often non-recyclable due to its size and different commingled materials making it near impossible to be identified and processed in current waste management streams. Li has designed a refillable container made from only 5 components that not only extends the lifespan of the packaging but reduces the complexity and number of components compared to conventional formats. Using algae as an innovative material choice for the design, allows the dispenser to be safely home composted after its multiple uses. It also offers a renewable alternative to current lipstick formulas, of which about 40% of any given formula is derived from petroleum.

It’s truly inspiring to see the level of detail that’s gone into the life cycle approach of this concept which identified extraction, excessive parts, and end of life as the key hotspots to resolve through the design. Applying lifecycle thinking to any packaging solution is essential if we’re to achieve planet positive outcomes and shift away from our throw-away, wasteful cultures.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

Last month’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report issued an urgent warning that irreversible and unprecedented changes to the planet are being caused by our climate crisis. The ‘code red for humanity’ highlights human influence is largely accountable for the 1.1degrees C of temperature increase since pre-industrial times.

To curb further catastrophic impacts, it is essential that net-zero carbon by 2050 be the minimum target to try and achieve a 1.5degree world. So how can design help combat our climate crisis?

Up to 80% of the environmental impacts from a product are defined in the early design stages. Taking a holistic, lifecycle approach to design will enable us to mitigate negative impacts and design with our finite world in mind. Applying circular design thinking to any problem solving will highlight ways to design out waste and pollution, work to regenerate natural resources and, a must have for FMCG, look for solutions to prolong the use of materials and move away from single use which comes with a huge cost to the planet.

It’s also time to start measuring, now. Getting a baseline measure of your packaging footprint through a lifecycle assessment is essential to defining packaging strategies that can look to eliminate waste and emissions across the packaging supply chains, while provide validation of the most environmentally considered material for the functional requirements of your packaging.

But remember, you’re not alone! All brands big and small are on this journey and with the climate clock ticking, it’s important we collaborate to work towards our global sustainability goals. With long complex supply chains, it won’t be a simple fix, but we have the know-how and capabilities to unite and lead change.

Our Friends of the Earth thoughts are brought to you in collaboration with philo & co.

philo & co are a circular design consultancy helping creative agencies and brands transition to a circular economy. Pippa, the Founder of philo & co, is a Circulab certified circular design consultant and has more than 10 years’ experience within the creative industry working with global design agencies and leading FMCG brands.

Pippa brings a holistic view in solving the systemic challenges required to transition from linear to circular design by embedding regenerative thinking and practices into the heart of organisations. In 2020, she became a Climate Reality Leader following training by the Climate Reality Corps, led by Al Gore. When Pippa is not thinking of how to rid the world of waste, she is usually at the beach or enjoying a hearty meal (and wine) with friends.

Teamwork is dreamwork.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

Illustration by @eshakespeare

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation have estimated that if refill bottle designs and business models were applied to all bottles in beauty, personal care and home cleaning, the packaging and transport savings would represent an 80–85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to today’s traditional single-use bottles.

So it’s no wonder we’re seeing refill beginning to get the attention it rightly deserves. Unilever, like many other organizations, are working to ensure all their packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

In the UK, a number of Unilever brands are now available in reusable packaging through 3 refill models in partnership with Asda and Beauty Kitchen, as part of a flagship sustainability store.

• Touch-free refill machines provide an in-store dispensary with QR code traceability allowing Unilever to track the packaging’s purchase, use and refill process to gain insights on the circular model.
• In-home refills have been adopted by brands to enable the use of concentrates and ‘bottles for life’. Cif’s eco-refills use 75% less plastic than conventional plastic bottles.
• Self-serve containers are being used for loose item brands, like Pukka tea where people can use their own reusable packaging or buy one before paying for the weight of goods.

We’re really excited to see the growth in refill innovation and work with brands to help them realize the most appropriate refill model and design for their packaging. Together we have the opportunity to realize sustainability goals and reduce our impact on the environment.

We’d love to hear about your sustainable packaging challenges!

Illustration by @eshakespeare

We simply love all that Kengos stands for. Their core design principles are to minimize the number of components, maximise natural materials and provide repairable and recyclable shoes and packaging.

In the US alone, more than 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away each year, with midsoles typically made of ethylene vinyl acetate taking upwards of 1,000 years to decompose. Kengos is challenging the shoe industry to rethink how you design and wear shoes for the better. Made only from natural materials they are held together with their patented one knot construction enabling ease of repair and disassembly for recycling at a later date.

Kengos takes a refreshing approach to bring their brand and packaging experience to life. The brandmark acknowledges the shoe’s bespoke knot and the packaging is designed with recycled cardboard which forms as the shipping container. The tear perforations remove the need for additional tapes or adhesives and upon opening are welcomed to the brand’s sustainability message.

If you want to be further impressed by Kengo, we encourage you to check them out!

Our Friends of the Earth thoughts are brought to you in collaboration with philo & co.

philo & co are a circular design consultancy helping creative agencies and brands transition to a circular economy. Pippa, the Founder of philo & co, is a Circulab certified circular design consultant and has more than 10 years’ experience within the creative industry working with global design agencies and leading FMCG brands.

Pippa brings a holistic view in solving the systemic challenges required to transition from linear to circular design by embedding regenerative thinking and practices into the heart of organisations. In 2020, she became a Climate Reality Leader following training by the Climate Reality Corps, led by Al Gore. When Pippa is not thinking of how to rid the world of waste, she is usually at the beach or enjoying a hearty meal (and wine) with friends.

Teamwork is dreamwork.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

A recent report by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has highlighted our progress on achieving our 2025 National Packaging Targets that look to ensure:

• 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging
• 70% of plastic packaging being recycled or composted
• 50% average recycled content included in packaging
• Phasing out problematic and unnecessary single use plastics packaging

While we have seen an improvement on the previous years, there is still a long road ahead, particularly when it comes to plastics. Currently, 89% of packaging on the market is recyclable, however there is still a considerable amount of valuable materials ending up in landfill which is estimated to have an economic cost of around $520 million and resulted in approximately 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions during the reported period.

As packaging designers, we have a role to play in collaborating across the packaging supply chain to make sure our designs are working towards our national packaging targets. Even within the context of recyclability, there are a number of key design elements such as inks, materials, shape, size, weight of packaging that determine the recyclability and its value to material reprocessors.

We are committed to do our part in helping the brands we work with here in Australia & New Zealand to achieve these targets. If you would like to understand how to circular design could enhance your packaging, we would love to chat.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

It’s an extremely common question- which is more sustainable paper or plastic packaging? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. There are several factors that create a material’s environmental footprint as well as offering very specific functional benefits for the product that must be taken into consideration.

Designing sustainable packaging needs to have a systemic approach across the whole packaging value chain and work towards a circular economy.

To obtain the environmental advances we need, like achieving global carbon reduction targets and halting biodiversity loss, we must look beyond the material conversation and instead:

• Design out waste and pollution
• Regenerate natural systems
• Keep products and materials in use

There are often perceived sustainability benefits, particularly when referring to renewable materials, but every material has an environmental impact. Understanding these impacts through Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) is a great way to validate the material choices you make within the context of the packaging system.

At Depot, we take a strategic, circular approach to identify the most appropriate packaging system for brands.  By optimising packaging design and communication, we look to improve the environmental footprint and recoverability of materials after their primary use.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

We’re seeing many businesses starting to look beyond packaging and consider how to reduce the environmental impacts across their whole business, and AB InBev is no exception.

“Protecting the environment in which we operate and from which we source those ingredients is an absolute prerequisite for us to make sure we can continue to brew our beers, that’s why sustainability is so core to everything we do.” – Ingrid De Ryck, Chief Procurement & Sustainability Officer, Anheuser-Busch

As part of their broader sustainability goals, they have invested $100m to repurpose barley after it’s used to make beer, diverting it from landfill. This will see its wholly owned subsidiary EverGrain transform saved grain into food and other beverages. Using grain, like barley twice- first to create the beer and then incorporated into food or beverage products drastically reduces the environmental impact across inputs needed to create these products, such as land and water but also contributes to the sustainability missions across the businesses involved.

The food and beverage sectors are ripe for innovation to identify opportunities in how we design out waste across businesses and find creative solutions to repurpose product materials. But it starts with a sound understanding of where your impacts currently lie, to create a future-fit sustainability strategy.

You can find out more about AB InBev’s Sustainability Strategy here.

Our Friends of the Earth thoughts are brought to you in collaboration with philo & co.

philo & co are a circular design consultancy helping creative agencies and brands transition to a circular economy. Pippa, the Founder of philo & co, is a Circulab certified circular design consultant and has more than 10 years’ experience within the creative industry working with global design agencies and leading FMCG brands.

Pippa brings a holistic view in solving the systemic challenges required to transition from linear to circular design by embedding regenerative thinking and practices into the heart of organisations. In 2020, she became a Climate Reality Leader following training by the Climate Reality Corps, led by Al Gore. When Pippa is not thinking of how to rid the world of waste, she is usually at the beach or enjoying a hearty meal (and wine) with friends.

Teamwork is dreamwork.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

The United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide “the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. Globally, these goals are intended to mobilise efforts to end poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change.

With big commitments being set for the turn of new decades for 2030 and beyond, we’re seeing more and more brands looking to the UN SDGs to guide their sustainability strategies. Diageo have recently announced a new 10-year action plan ‘Society 2030: Spirit of Progress’ that plans to promote positive drinking; champion inclusion and diversity and pioneering grain-to glass sustainability.

The next decade will focus on three core areas, carefully selected to align with UN SDGs and will see Diageo brands work towards:

• Reach 1 billion people with messages of moderation through its brands
• Achieve Net Zero carbon emissions across direct operations
• Increase representation of leaders from ethnically diverse backgrounds to 45%
• Use 30% less water in every drink it makes

It can all too often feel overwhelming when looking to define your sustainability strategy, but the SDG indicators provide a great framework for defining performance metrics, accountability and business compliance practises. When used to inspire bold commitments and transparency, the goals will help to overcome many of the environmental, social and economic challenges brands face.

To find out more about the UN Sustainable Development Goals, please click here.

OR To read more about the Society 2030: Spirits of Progress, please click here.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

A multitude of NGOs, like The Ellen MacArthur’s Foundation Plastic Pact, are working to promote plastic packaging is either reusable, recyclable or where viable compostable.

Here in Australia, only 16% of all plastic packaging is recovered for future use*. There are a number of contributing factors that play a role in the efficient recovery of packaging, but design is a critical component that affects, in particular, the latter stages of the packaging value chain.

A prime example being shrink label contamination preventing the proper recycling of PET packaging and bottles.  For multiple component plastic packaging in particular, there are key design considerations that should be met such as product labelling, to component size, adhesives and material selection that collectively ensure the most effective processing as it moves through material recovery facilities (MRF).

It’s essential for brands to understand the waste management requirements to design packaging in a way that is complementary to our existing infrastructures and improve packaging recovery rates for the future.

If you would like to understand how to circular design could enhance your packaging, we would love to chat.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

Encirc, a glass container manufacturer, in collaboration with Glass Futures, an industry research and technology organization, have reached a remarkable achievement in a revolutionary trial.

They have demonstrated that new bottles can be made from 100% recycled glass using ultra-low-carbon biofuel energy. These waste organic biofuels are renewable and are estimated to reduce the carbon footprint of each bottle by 90%, and in addition, achieving up to 100% recycled glass will drastically reduce the environmental impact of glass production compared to today’s traditional fossil fuel-based practices.

It is anticipated that this trial will set new industry-wide carbon reduction standards as we work to decarbonize our economies. It is a great example of an industry spear heading more regenerative and renewable practices through collaboration and will be a critical component for brands to consider in setting science-based targets and de-carbonizing packaging as part of their circular strategies.

You can find out more about Encirc’s carbon neutral mission here.

Our Friends of the Earth thoughts are brought to you in collaboration with philo & co.

philo & co are a circular design consultancy helping creative agencies and brands transition to a circular economy. Pippa, the Founder of philo & co, is a Circulab certified circular design consultant and has more than 10 years’ experience within the creative industry working with global design agencies and leading FMCG brands.

Pippa brings a holistic view in solving the systemic challenges required to transition from linear to circular design by embedding regenerative thinking and practices into the heart of organisations. In 2020, she became a Climate Reality Leader following training by the Climate Reality Corps, led by Al Gore. When Pippa is not thinking of how to rid the world of waste, she is usually at the beach or enjoying a hearty meal (and wine) with friends.

Teamwork is dreamwork.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

Mars Food are making waves in an industry first monolayer, stand up, microwavable polypropylene pouch. As part of their Sustainable Packaging Plan, which looks to ensure all packaging is 100% recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025, they embarked on a 3 year collaboration with Amcor to identify, and rigorously test solutions that enable an inherently problematic material to now play a valuable role in our recovery and recycling systems.

Typically, stand up pouches are made of multilayer plastic films, however, multilayer packaging materials cannot be recycled using traditional plastic recycling technologies (like mechanical recycling) due to the chemical incompatibility of the different layers.

Globally, we can see a huge range of businesses and independent non-for profit bodies leading the way to similar, if not exacting packaging targets for 2025.

100% recyclability is increasingly becoming a non-negotiable for brands to ensure we are applying one of the circular economy’s key principles of designing out waste and pollution.

Further details of Mars’s Sustainable Packaging Plan can be found here.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

Deodorants are changing, and for the better. Once a product that hid away in bathroom cupboards is ripe with innovation, from subscription D2C refillable deodorant brands (like one of our personal favourites Myro) to most recently, Dove, one of Unilever’s Sustainable Living Brands taking refill to the mainstream.

In 2019, Dove was one of Unilever’s brands to collaborate with Terracycle, an international recycling leader, as part of their innovative new business model Loop to bring premium, durable packaging delivered straight to the consumer, used, returned and refilled.

Two years on, Dove are launching their sleek, stainless steel refills in collaboration with VanBerlo and A Plastic Planet in retailers like Walmart. The designs are estimated to use 54% less plastic that Dove’s zero stick packaging as well as utilizing 98% recycled content for the plastic components within the refills.

Overall, refills look to challenge and shift behaviours and enable us to collectively achieve one of the circular economy’s key principles in keeping materials in use for as long as possible. They also pose the opportunity to elevate every day products, into more lifestyle focused brands. Products that have a permanent place in our homes, and aligned with our values.

Further details of Dove’s refills can be found here.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

The term ‘greenwashing’ refers to misinformation shared by a company to present an environmentally responsible image. Unfortunately, this can too often be the case, with the story behind the words worlds apart.

With the global challenges we face, such as biodiversity loss, our climate and waste crisis; it’s never been more critical for our words and actions to align. Today, brands have a huge responsibility not just to our planet, but to responsibly navigate their customers through the complexities of ‘sustainability’.

The word in itself can be interpreted in so many ways. What does it mean to a brand? How does it translate to the product, and the packaging? How do we appropriately communicate this, while having a sound knowledge of the system in which a brand lives and breathes?

Brands can no longer hide behind ‘eco’ ranges, or baseless claims. It’s imperative for the health of any organisation, and that of the planet, to understand these global challenges, and have clearly defined sustainability strategies that speak true to actions and voice your message with confidence and clarity.

If you would like to understand how to define your sustainability strategy, and start your journey to a regenerative, inclusive future, we would love to chat.

Our Friends of the Earth thoughts are brought to you in collaboration with philo & co.

philo & co are a circular design consultancy helping creative agencies and brands transition to a circular economy. Pippa, the Founder of philo & co, is a Circulab certified circular design consultant and has more than 10 years’ experience within the creative industry working with global design agencies and leading FMCG brands.

Pippa brings a holistic view in solving the systemic challenges required to transition from linear to circular design by embedding regenerative thinking and practices into the heart of organisations. In 2020, she became a Climate Reality Leader following training by the Climate Reality Corps, led by Al Gore. When Pippa is not thinking of how to rid the world of waste, she is usually at the beach or enjoying a hearty meal (and wine) with friends.

Teamwork is dreamwork.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

To address the ever-pressing challenges we face in preserving biodiversity and fighting climate change its imperative that we look to product formulation and packaging as a whole system and look beyond category conventions to define ‘new’ sustainable norms.

As part of the ‘L’Oréal For the Future’ sustainability programme, Garnier have re-developed their Ultimate Blends shampoos to start the transition of big beauty brands to new product and packaging formats. The bars are packaged with 100% recyclable FSC- certified cardboard, with an impressive 94% plant-based ingredients, have 80% less packaging (compared to current plastic bottles) and use 70% less fossil energy for transportation compared to conventional shampoo.

The beauty is, through creativity and collaboration, there are many opportunities to design away from the waste and pollution associated with single use plastic packaging, and product formats.

A recent Quantis report sited data illustrating global customers and their choices being a major lever for industry action. With 78% seeking plastic free packaging and 75% seeking refillable and reusable packaging we will certainly begin to see a lot more of this in the months and years to come.

Further details of L’Oréal’s For the Future sustainability programme can be found here.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

We’re firm believers that true wellbeing starts from within and Mimi & Boo is built on ethical and inclusive values to guide good health. The growing supplement space presents an opportunity to rethink how we can maximise packaging resources to offer a considered delivery system and user experience. This start up look to address waste, give back to communities and offer full transparency, and their packaging system is addressing waste within this category head on.

The reusable supplement pots are a great solution to a high volume consumable good, where repeat purchases can form part of the product and packaging journey with a much lighter footprint compared to conventional formats.

Through a D2C model, Mimi & Boo are able to offer the initial glass packaging, which is refilled from repeat purchase compostable sachets, ensuring that considerably fewer materials are used, and distribution emissions are kept to an absolute minimum.

With national packaging targets setting standards around the world for industries to adhere to, building the optimal refill packaging system for a brand has never been more important.

Further details of Mimi & Boo can be found here.

Illustration by @eshakespeare

Colgate- Palmolive’s packaging strategy is really something to be admired.

“Packaging innovation is the key to achieving Colgate’s purpose of reimagining a healthier future and that our sustainability strategy needs to underpin all aspects of our packaging strategy.” Greg Corra, Director of Global Packaging Innovation & Sustainability.

Colgate-Palmolive are driven to create solutions that continually improve brand engagement all while uniting their regenerative values and vision for the future, no easy task.

What is most striking, is their systemic approach. Understanding how the product and packaging plays a role as an interface between the brand and user; understanding global recycling capabilities; forging their R&D, product developers, marketing, packaging engineers, brand designers to have a truly collaborative strategy is the driving force enabling them to create innovative product and packaging solutions.

Take their ‘Keep’ toothbrush. The product itself redesigned with an aluminum reusable base to extend the component’s use with the ability to replace the brush heads. The packaging, an all-fiber tub and lid, with 60% recycled content, moving away from plastic blister packs. Overall, the design will create 80% less plastic waste than conventional toothbrushes.

From mono material toothpaste tubes to open-source technology, Colgate-Palmolive are fast on track to repave packaging for personal care. Further details of exemplary sustainable packaging achievements to date can be found here.

Our Friends of the Earth thoughts are brought to you in collaboration with philo & co.

philo & co are a circular design consultancy helping creative agencies and brands transition to a circular economy. Pippa, the Founder of philo & co, is a Circulab certified circular design consultant and has more than 10 years’ experience within the creative industry working with global design agencies and leading FMCG brands.

Pippa brings a holistic view in solving the systemic challenges required to transition from linear to circular design by embedding regenerative thinking and practices into the heart of organisations. In 2020, she became a Climate Reality Leader following training by the Climate Reality Corps, led by Al Gore. When Pippa is not thinking of how to rid the world of waste, she is usually at the beach or enjoying a hearty meal (and wine) with friends.

Teamwork is dreamwork.