RSA Design Competition Fair Play Project (2015)
To design or redesign a consumer toy and its product packaging to minimise the environmental impact.
Toys are important in child development, stimulating imagination and creativity. However, toys and toy packaging are one of the worst offenders in waste going to landfill as stated in the RSA Design Brief.
For my project, the brief asked to design a toy and its packaging to minimise waste, whilst creating a new play experience. This is how I came up with the E-Pod, an eco-friendly form of toy packaging, where the packaging becomes the toy itself.
The E-Pod is made from a starch based PLA Bio-Plastic, a renewable source that is recyclable, and also offers more opportunities for achieving zero-waste, without harming the environment.
Inspired by "Grow your Own," the E-Pod allows children to grow their own herbs by repurposing the packaging. E-Pod comes with a water squeeze toy, enabling the child to water their herbs with a set dosage and in a fun playful way.
With different E-Pod's for growing different herbs, each designed full of character, this allows the parent and child to interact with each other and the product
The base is line with a cotton pad. impregnated with seeds, enabling the child to grow their herbs without the need for soil. Gathering research, and through some testing, it is possible to grow herbs without soil