Research into Drink & Liquid Packaging

Facts

• Food and drinks carton are made from paper-board. 70% of the total package weight includes materials like plastic and aluminium foil
• As a nation we use 57k tonnes of cartons every year that is the same weight of 331 blue whales
• Cartons are made with between 70% and 90% paperboard, a renewable natural product and much of the carton can be reclaimed in the recycling process
• Cartons are baled and transported to a mill in Sweden, where they are recycled.

http://www.recycleforessex.co.uk/FoodandDrinkCartons.html




Green Gate Bio Packaging 

Materials they use 

Paper:  The papers used to manufacture our products are either from recycled or sustainable forest sources ensuring that our forests are not depleted. Paper can either be recycled or, since paper is produced from organic matter, can also biodegrade. 

PLA:  PLA stands for Polylactic Acid which is a biodegradable plastic derived from renewable plant resources such as corn starch. The PLA most commonly used in food packaging has a relatively low melting temperature and therefore is only suitable for packaging cold food and drinks. 

PLA food packaging products are generally manufactured through a process of ‘thermoforming’ whereby heat is used to mould PLA sheets into specific shapes. Since PLA has a relatively low melting temperature this means that less energy is required and therefore less carbon dioxide is emitted during the manufacturing process of PLA food packaging products.
 
Green Gate bio-plastic food packaging products are largely made using the NatureWorks LLC brand of PLA known as Ingeo. NatureWorks LLC are at the forefront of PLA production technology and are constantly improving the production process to make it more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable. 

Specific forms of Ingeo meet the EN 13432 standard and are certified as compostable. The following image shows how our PLA lined Eco Hot Cups break down in just a few weeks:



PSM:  PSM stands for PlaStarch Material. PSM is derived from the renewable resource corn starch which is modified, rendering it more heat resistant. As with PLA, PSM is largely made using renewable resources thereby preserving the earth’s non-renewable resources such as coal and oil. 

PSM is considered to be a 'Bio-based' material.

Sugar Cane Pulp/Sugar Bagasse:  This biodegradable material comes from the reeds of sugar canes and makes an excellent substitute for polystyrene foam which is often used to make conventional fast food takeaway packaging and takes many years to break down. 

Products made from sugar cane fibres otherwise known as 'sugar bagasse' are not only made from a renewable resource - plants - but also have the added benefit that sugar cane pulp would otherwise be a WASTE product which is now being put to good use. Sugar bagasse products can be used in microwaves and refrigerators. 

Recyclable and biodegradable.

Kraft Paperboard:  The kraft paperboard used to manufacture our leakproof Brown Bio Food Boxesis sustainably sourced and lined with a water-based greaseproof lining which renders the paperboard 100% biodegradable and compostable, as well as recyclable. 

PS:  PS stands for Polystyrene. At Green Gate our aim is to make the switch to eco-friendly disposables as easy and cost-effective as possible. Therefore, where a biodegradable/compostable offering is not yet available, is not fit-for-purpose or is cost prohibitive we seek to offer you the next best alternatives. Whilst this material is made from petroleum which is a non-renewable resource and also not compostable, it can be recycled and we encourage you to do so wherever possible (PS has the plastics recycling group number ‘6’). 

We are currently working to find suitable alternatives for products made from this plastic and hope to be able to remove this section very soon!


http://shop.biogreengate.com/materials_a/252.htm

GreenBottle is a new type of liquid packaging designed as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bottles and laminated cartons. The bottle is made from a paper outer shell with a thin plastic liner inside to hold the liquid. After use, the bottle is easily separable, so that the paper outer can be composted or recycled, and the inner liner recycled where facilities exist. The bottle performs the same in distribution, in the store, and in the home as a regular plastic bottle, but with the advantage of being much better for the environment as it uses much less plastic.

Greenbottle has a much lower carbon footprint than a regular plastic bottle, and has a third of the plastic of a comparable plastic bottle.

http://www.greenbottle.com/about-us/default.aspx

Edward Bulmer "Pots of Paint" Research and Books

Research: Looking through books 

Book 1

Experimental eco-design- architecture/ fashion/ product 

Book 2

Design for Sustainibility- Janis Birkerland

Book 3
The Sustainibility Handbook for Design and Technology Teachers- Centre for Alternative Technology

Book 4 The eco-design handbook: a complete sourcebook for the home and office

Thinking of Designs for Edward Bulmer

Experimenting with shapes

Rough Ideas 

   

More ideas will be posted while I do some more research into materials and Liquid food packaging.

Steel & Plastic Cans for Edwards Bulmer's Packaging

Research:

Materials Used to Make traditional Paint Cans:

Steel Cans - Steel has many advantages along with several disadvantages as well. Firstly with its durability, they are very hard wearing and will stay intact in different conditions. Plus it can be recycled.

However, steel cans can start to rust if it is not sealed properly or the lid can get covered up with dried paint which would make it difficult to close and open the can. There is also a risk of the paint becoming discoloured as the can starts to rust and fall in to the paint. 

Will not be using steel for my design!! 

Plastic Cans - Also has its advantage and disadvantages. Starting with the fact it does not rust or dent like steel. They are lighter than steel and most plastic are made of polyethylene, which can be recycled. It is also good for display as it is transparent making it easier for us too pick the right colour.

There is also a possibility of paint reacting with the plastic can that can lead to damage. However, plastic is not biodegradable meaning it is not possible for the earth to absorb it back into the soil.

Will not be using either of these material as they are not eco friendly and possibly damage the paint.

Questions to ask them:

What are your Paint Pots made from?

My aim is to find a renewable source or a recycled sources that could replace Steel and Plastic Cans for paint. Both of these material have their advantage hence why I like to find something just as good as steel and plastic.

New Eco Pak From Derivan

http://www.derivan.com.au/derivan/eco-pack.html

The video above demonstrates the benefits of the soft plastic recyclable package that   

"Derivan is an Australian company and maker of the finest quality artist materials, including famous Matisse range of professional artist acrylic paints and paint products."

Their new Eco-Pak acts just like an wine cask container. The plastic package container has a flat base, its transparent and it come with a plastic screw cap and nozzle.