Comments on: The Brand Risk of Unsustainable Packaging http://quakingaspenllc.com/2009/01/09/the-brand-risk-of-unsustainable-packaging/ Sustainable Innovation Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:25:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Eileen Stephens http://quakingaspenllc.com/2009/01/09/the-brand-risk-of-unsustainable-packaging/#comment-2 Eileen Stephens Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:08:29 +0000 http://quakingaspenllc.wordpress.com/?p=266#comment-2 Yeah, agreed. But then, in thinking about alternatives, we need to account for performance characteristics (same look and feel? same user convenience? or perhaps *better* look/feel/convenience because people inherently dislike change and need a "payoff"?) and costs (safety-related, environmental, and financial, which launches us into LCA, which leads to questions about system boundaries). For example, many organic, compostable alternatives (eg forks, knives) ironically seem more material intensive than the traditional items they replace. Is it because the material is structurally weaker and requires greater wall-thickness, or because the designers just think they can use more material "since it biodegrades anyway"? I sure hope it's not the latter. By the same token, I am apprehensive that companies will use "green materials" as an excuse to make even more useless tchochkies because "it all biodegrades anyway" (not that that holds the majority of tchochky-makers back now). Yeah, agreed. But then, in thinking about alternatives, we need to account for performance characteristics (same look and feel? same user convenience? or perhaps *better* look/feel/convenience because people inherently dislike change and need a “payoff”?) and costs (safety-related, environmental, and financial, which launches us into LCA, which leads to questions about system boundaries).

For example, many organic, compostable alternatives (eg forks, knives) ironically seem more material intensive than the traditional items they replace. Is it because the material is structurally weaker and requires greater wall-thickness, or because the designers just think they can use more material “since it biodegrades anyway”? I sure hope it’s not the latter. By the same token, I am apprehensive that companies will use “green materials” as an excuse to make even more useless tchochkies because “it all biodegrades anyway” (not that that holds the majority of tchochky-makers back now).

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