Project start: This project is completely self-directed which I like because it gives me the freedom to develop a project that has value and purpose.
(Take the time to look at my previous blog posts and you will see an interest in sustainable materials, related to packaging design.)
Initially, I wanted to give myself a brief that stepped away from material design and solving global issues using packaging as a vehicle and focus on developing ideas using technology to prevent injury during sports activity as one of my passions is outdoor activities such as cycling and running.

Taking my personal experiences of sport and sport wear to design an accessible piece of sportswear that prevents injury was something I was keen to complete, I had started working on this project in the summer as part of ongoing relationship which was built with Presca team wear during an internship, however during rational of the project ‘smart sock’ early research showed that the technology exists and the idea of intelligent sportswear is currently been designed for purchase in store by companies like Dupont and Adidas. I aim to finish the Smart Sock project in my spare time.

I reflected back on what my carrier goal is, and what project is attenable considering project time, and university resources. My career goals are ultimately to design and innovate new sustainable materials and products. I looked at developing previously thought of project Mushroom paper, as I thought this would work well in my portfolio.

The mushroom paper was thought about as part of a previous project SEAsoning, an edible packaging polymer, and then developed to that I could share the idea as part of a pitch to Iceland.

Mushroom paper:

The idea, the concept was to design a packaging material that accounted for the best and worst case when considering current consumer behaviour trends and infrastructure in the UK: Best cases considering Re-use, curbside recycling, home and AD composting, worst case littering and landfill.

Best case re-use the paper packaging in the home, using the packaging to grow mushrooms on a window sill, this idea was also developed into growing micro herbs.

Ben took the time to come to my home and look at early prototypes, then gave advise as a professional gardener on why growing mushrooms might not be easy. Our discussion progressed on to the trend of micro herbs and why that might be viable as a secondary use as a packaging material.

This discussion when on to progress my design and prototyping.

This packaging shows me i’m on the right track with current consumer trends, because it shows the packaging having a secondary use to grow cress. i want my packaging to have clearer instruction letting the consummer know what and how… to plant. this packaging isnt even clear if the seed comes with the packaging.

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Images of planting herbs in the paper)

I experimented with different base materials, wood pulp, mushrooms, waste food that is naturally high in cellulose.

me with leek paper

The consideration: Can it be collected at curbside? I spoke to Ashley house, printing house and GF Smith. Through email and telephone conversations I asked if including additives in the paper would affect the recycling process.

Joe Gill at Ashley house stated it would be fine, and Steve Taylor at GF Smith agreed.

Industry proffessional Joe Gill at Ashley house confirmed my design ideas.

The carton board packaging as well as branding the product enclosed, protects during transit. This is important when considering E-commerce and the trend for home delivery. When the product and it’s packaging reaches the home and inevitably reaching the end of its use, can then be Re-use and re-purposed. The paper is designed to have the secondary use of growing herbs or mushrooms, this adds value to the consumer and prevents littering and landfill. The paper can then be composed at home or recycled from curb side collection.

The cleaver bit!

Designing for the worst case, if the paper packaging is littered on land the packaging breaks down leaving no trace, the fungi spaws encapsulated in the packaging join the largest organism/network of mycelium that envelops our Earth.

The Mycyclim will help to break down chemicals in the soil that has been created by prior littering.