Zero Takeaway Packaging

Year

2020

Sector

Consumer Products

Services

Following the ‘Get Onboard: Reduce. Reuse. Rethink’ exhibition that we designed and curated at the Design Museum in 2019, Wallpaper* Magazine approached us to take part in its ‘Re-made’ project, a series of design commissions to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, as well as acknowledge the need to rethink our relationship with the things we buy and use.

Two hands shown holding material samples over a series of sketches, drawings, material samples and 3D models

Challenge

After an initial research phase, we chose to tackle the vast amounts of waste created by food takeaway packaging in a bid to minimise the environmental impact of convenience culture, and to rethink the whole system, from cradle to cradle. According to figures released in 2019, online food delivery and takeaway is a market worth over $53 billion a year globally. This is before the global pandemic led to significant increases in takeaways as food and drink businesses adapted to new revenue models to ensure their survival.

Solution

At its core, we identified three main issues with the takeaway industry: single-use packaging, delivery challenges and food presentation. Our solution, Zero, aims to encourage positive behaviour change, by creating packaging that is seen as a reusable, desirable object, rather than disposable. It’s based on a circular design approach and built on six key principles:

The return of reusables – creating products with value and creating a system whereby consumers are rewarded for positive behaviour

Universal packaging – bento box style containers instantly halve the amount of packaging required, by removing lids. The packaging is designed to be transferable between restaurants

Sustainable materials – alternatives to plastics, working with natural materials wherever possible

Dining experience – creating packaging that can be used for presentation, contributing to creating a sense of occasion at home

Zero waste – alternative biodegradable solutions to clingfilm to combat leaks and spills

Improved delivery quality – temperature control, delivery efficiency

Artist's rendering of a food takeway bag and packaging made from sustainable materials

“The takeaway food market has more than doubled in size since 2011.”

THE TIMES, 2020

Three stacked brown bento box style containers in different sizes on a light brown background

Three separate layers from a bento box style container are filled with appetising food, the lid sits in the background. The dishes are set out against a salmon pink backdrop

Exploded view of a stacked brown bento box style food container, against a dark background

A large selection of natural material samples laid out on a light pink background

PriestmanGoode conducted extensive research into food safe materials and chose to partner with some of the world’s leading materialists and designers working on sustainable materials including Paula Nerlich, Ty Syml, Lexcell by Yulex, Crafting Plastics, Pinatex and Margarita Talep.