100% Collection was an idea to collect all of the single-use products created by a manufacturer back for re-use. As part of New Futures Lab, we prototyped and piloted a physical collection bin with an integrated service to learn and make progress towards collecting 100% of what leaves the factory.

According to the Helen MacArthur Foundation, only 14% of all plastic packaging is collected for recycling after use and vast quantities escape into the environment. If the current trend continues, there could be more plastic than fish (by weight) in the ocean by 2050.

To understand firsthand the issues with collecting compostables for eventual re-use, we developed a research plan and prototype service offering for events and foodservice providers. This involved shipping coordination, usable collection bins complete with signage, research plans to be executed during the event, and return services to the manufacturer. I was the project lead and senior designer on the project, working on all aspects of the initiative, including planning and staffing.

Labeling sparked a broader idea

This project was born from a larger initiative focused on understanding the landscape of compostable packaging in relation to on-going sustainability legislation being enacted throughout the US. To frame our understanding, we designed and facilitated a large, multi-day workshop with various stakeholders in the Seattle region. We brought together administrators from the city, composters, zero-waste advocacy groups, and additional subject-matter experts. Key to the output of this initiative was a set of ideas that would decrease the amount of compostable packaging that ends up in landfills.

A concept emerges

Continued development of concepts led to a number of promising directions. One offshoot concept held significant promise as a new business venture, the notion of collecting 100% of the physical material manufactured for compostable drink cups. The emergence of South by Southwest as a testing ground and a partnership with Michigan House gave us the perimeters to build out a pilot offering.

The key problem to solve for was the moment of collection. We recognized and documented many other barriers to collection throughout the journey of packaging materials, but many lived at municipal levels that we did not yet have the ability to influence. Focusing in on the moment that an end user decides how to dispose of something was the crucial step we could impact.

Defining the service

We worked to build out an initial prototype service offering to help us define the experience elements we would need to create in order to test. These elements were organized into design, communication, and research buckets that drove the initial work on the team.

Developing the prototype

We collaborated with internal product designers at Fabri-Kal on a number of solutions, ultimately resulting in a custom cup receptacle that could be quickly deployed by event staff. The receptacle would collect compostable cups in sleeves designed to be collected, packed, and sent back to the manufacturer for further exploration on re-use. To allow for this, we envisioned and designed custom cup inserts and custom internal corrugated cardboard components. We created environmental signage to help guests dispose of cups properly, as well as training materials for the event staff to communicate the benefits of the program.

Our pilot design required wrap-around services work in tandem with the collection bins. We priced shipping, created on-boarding instructions, and researched local guidelines to ensure we had considered every detail. Ethnographic testing protocols were put in place to gather on-the-ground feedback from guests, event staff, and event coordinators.

COVID-19 hits

We were 98% ready to test our prototype in the filed when COVID-19 hit in March of 2020. This initiative was put on hold when SXSW was cancelled. Once our team had settled into remote work, we quickly adapted the research plan to allow for testing at other events when became safe to do so again. The project was effectively on hold.

Field testing

Fast forward about a full year later, and an opportunity arose to revive 100% Collection. We had helped Fabri-Kal set a new direction and strategy focused on their sustainability efforts. This project aligned neatly with new goals, and we jumped to restart it. After some project re-shuffling and planning, we hit the ground running to focus on testing our prototype.

We got to work on making some design improvements to our DIY prototype. Simultaneously, we found 2 partners who were willing to conduct a pilot test with us, both who allowed for outdoor work as an extra safety measure. Each provided a unique perspective. The 1st testing partner was an outdoor coffee cafe, where we set up shop for a week of observation and intercept-style interviews. We asked people about their experiences using our bin, as well as expectations around sustainability and potential services. In quick succession, we tested with a 2nd partner at an outdoor design and innovation festival. We executed the same research plan to allow us to analyze observations from both tests together.

Analysis and design updates

Following field research, we began analysis in earnest. Our insights began to take shape. Eventually, our design principles fell into 3 categories for improvement: product, communication, and experience:

Key design principles

1. Build on the known to help with the new

2. Make sorting convenient and accessible

3. Tell people why, briefly

4. Labeling should value clarity over cleverness

5. Balance the burden to increase impact

We quickly followed our research report with design updates. There were a number of updates that were specific to product and communication that we were able to iterate on, based on clustering and prioritization during analysis. We began the industrial design phase to sketch and concept out functional updates, working through iterations on signage, physical shape, aesthetics, and use cases. An evolved journey model helped organize the design work, and provided a foundation for communicating.

The outcome

Our team was able to quickly move through a full cycle of the design process, with a focus on build-to-learn. We found incredible enthusiasm from our research partners on solving a set of needs. Specifically, businesses and events with a environmentally-minded audience or customer base wanted better solutions for their waste. They understood using compostable packaging was not enough if they couldn't guarantee items were not ending up in landfills.

Our work culminated in a pitch document that described the work and 3D-rendered concepts for improvement. We also designed and facilitated internal workshops to unpack multiple options for launching the project as a business. During this process, our client Fabri-Kal was acquired. We continue to seek options on partnership for progressing the work, including launching a small startup. We see particular opportunity in working with municipalities to make a broader impact than individual businesses might be able to accomplish.