iTAL - Takeaway without the waste

Abstract: Packaging of fast food and take-out food involves a significant amount of material that ends up in landfills, recycling and litter. This is because the packaging is designed only for a single-use. There’s no future in single-use products and that includes single-use takeaway packaging. Influenced by the negative image of plastic, individual restaurants and food vendors are increasingly switching to bio-based and compostable packaging alternatives in a bid to go green. In as much as these developments have the potential to reduce the environmental footprint of packaging and increase recycling, there is no fundamental system change towards a circular economy in which raw materials are preserved as much as possible. This project sought out to find a better alternative that protects our planet’s resources, minimizes emissions and resource use. The design challenge was to develop a premium reusable container for takeaway meals and a system to reuse towards a circular economy without compromising food hygiene or the safety of consumers. The result is in two parts; a reusable takeout food container made in borosilicate glass and stainless steel which is targeted at restaurants and customers who want to reduce their environmental footprint. The container offers the possibility of storing leftover food in the fridge or freezer and tossing it straight into the oven or the microwave without any worry of harmful chemicals leaching into the food as a result of heating. While both recycling and remanufacturing are important approaches to recover and retain material value in a circular economy, designing products so they may be reused ensures that materials remain in use for as long as possible, generating the maximum value for customers and businesses alike. iTal, the second part of the project, designs a circular service that manages the logistics involved in the delivery of takeout food aiming at delivering the same convenience single-use packaging offer but in a better way (collection, cleaning of containers and supplying to partner restaurants).