Bronze Packaging Design · 2020
Eco Lettuce Package Multifunctional Food Packaging
by Ning Sun, Xu Sun, Binjian Liu and Ying Jiang
- A' Design Award 2020 Bronze Winner in Packaging Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: University of Nottingham Ningbo China
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 15,098
- Verification code C6E63A1212 · Verify this award
About Eco Lettuce Package Multifunctional Food Packaging
Eco Lettuce Package is a food package that also serves as a growing container for lettuce. Leaf lettuce continues to produce new leaves when watered regularly after trimming. The leaves are eaten and the roots are kept. The package is then turned over, water and the wrapping paper are added, and the plant grows through the holes. A second harvest is possible within several weeks. The wrapping paper is made of recycled paper and supplies nutrition. The container is made of PLA, a plant starch based plastic, and is shaped by vacuum forming.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Eco-lettuce package is a solution for consumers to continue eating lettuce. It is not only a package but also a lettuce growing container. Leaf-lettuce can continue growing to produce leaves if regularly watered after trimming. Flip the lettuce package and grow the trimmed lettuce. It is able to harvest a second, good-tasting lettuce with several weeks. The wrapping paper can provide plants with nutrition. This new package is sustainable, environment-friendly.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Diameter 170mm x Height 175mm
- Tags
- Sustainable, Recycled package, Eco-friendly, Package Design, Food Package, Concept Design
- Production Technology
- The material of package is PLA, a plastic substitute made from fermented plant starch plastic which is environmental-friendly material. The package can be manufactured by vacuums forming. The wrapping paper is made by recycling paper which absorbs plant nutrition.
- Design Challenge
- The function of packaging the lettuce and be a plant growing container will influence the appearance. The shape of package have been test to find the best solution to satisfy these 2 functions.
- Project Duration
- The project started in September 2018 in Ningbo, and finished in December.
- Operation Flow
- The lettuce is alive before it is shipped to the customer. Users can eat the leaves part and keep the roots. Flip the package, add the water and nutrition paper and grow the lettuce through the holes. After several weeks users can get three new lettuce.
- Research
- We produce 133 billion pounds food per year but about one third of food we produce is not consumed but throw away, it takes a ton of resources(Water, labor, oil and land energy) to produce food. Furthermore, this wasted food is a huge contributor to climate change. when it decomposes, it isn't just stinky. It releases potent greenhouse gases such as methane. Especially vegetables waste, we trow away 60% packaged lettuce. If we buy a lettuce and can continually plant and eat them easily that could be a solution to lighten the environment pressure.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the lettuce growth process. Leaf-lettuce can continue growing to produce leaves if regularly watered after trimming. This unique feature can make people grow lettuce by themself instead buying vegetables all the time.
- Image Credits
- Ning Sun