REPOST
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
This novel kind of package is made from tyvek, a sturdy and waterproof material. It can be reused repeatedly, which will help decrease the amount of paper waste generated by online shopping. After clients pick up their delivery they hand the package back to their local shop or post station.
realised by: Rebekka Jochem and Jacobo Cuesta Wolf
Geographical Scope
Project Region
Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Description of the project
Summary
REPOST is a new, beautiful take on packaging and a first step toward making online shopping more sustainable. Along with a colorful redesign of the conventional shipping cartons, recipients are invited to return the packaging into the cycle so the same box can be used to transport orders to new customers again and again.
Key objectives for sustainability
After receiving an order in the new packaging the customers take out their goods and return the packaging to the nearest mailbox or parcel station. The boxes are collected from there and distributed to the nearest online retailers, who reuse them to package their next orders. A deposit system encourages customers to participate, similar to the German practice of returnable bottles.
The boxes are manufactured from biodegradable plastic which is tear-resistant, durable and can be recycled.The soft meterial is reinforced with recycled cardboard, which gives the box stability and protects the goods inside. When empty, the sheets can be taken out, folded and laid flat into the box, resulting in minimal dead volume. This ensures low costs and little energy use when the packaging travels in an empty state. Furthermore, when the cardboard has been removed the material can be washed effortlessly with a standard washing machine. The packaging helps to make online shopping more eco-friendly by replacing single-use cardboard containers, saving large amounts of waste paper. Each box is designed to be used around 30 times, drastically saving energy in manufacturing and recycling compared to conventional packaging. It is easy to handle, with an intuitive, lightweight closing mechanism. The shipping label is used as a seal indicating clearly when the package was opened before it reaches the customer.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The recognizable design on each package transforms the customer experience of receiving boring brown cartons to getting exciting, colorful mail. The main graphic is derived from possible routes of the packages in Europe. The unique journey of each box is documented on its back using postage stamps or stickers from the retailer. That way all customers can retrace the path of their packaging, championing the most exotic routes This and generating a unique user experience.
Key objectives for inclusion
This completely new way of shipping things creates awareness for a topic most people do not think about: the problems with online shopping and the big amount of waste that is produced by this. The deposit for the box helps also to build awareness for this topic. Like in germany with the deposit on bottles.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
This shipping box is something completely new. Made out of sustainable material. Made to be used over and over again and able to be flat packed. The visual appearance of the box is characterised by bright colours and has by this an extremely recognition value. It also creates awareness for an important topic.
