La Ellen MacArthur Foundation, as a strategic partner, joined D. S. Smith at a virtual event held on June 24 to explore the new DS Smith Circular Design Principles.
A group of experts formed by joe iles, Circular Design Leader at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and Lydia butler, Director of Customer Experience at DS Smith, moderated by Greg dawson, Director of Corporate Affairs at DS Smith, discussed why design is vital in the transition to a more circular economy.
With more than 700 packaging designers around the world, as Greg Dawson said, every day DS Smith is helping customers optimize packaging for their supply chains.
Lydia Butler stated: “Although our material in corrugated packaging is already circular in nature, we are working tirelessly to make our packaging solutions even more sustainable. Our great source of inspiration was the Design Guide created by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. With the Principles of Circular Design we have developed a specific personalized framework for packaging. This will help us challenge ourselves by designing even better packaging. I am convinced that our international clients will benefit from our Circular Design Principles. " He also commented on different aspects related to the circular economy, such as the importance of creating a framework, of the emissions of the means of transport of the products, even more so with the rise of e-commerce ...
When it comes to design, clients, the world of design in general and internal synergies are three big influences, according to Joe Iles, who commented: “Partners like DS Smith have a great capacity to raise awareness about change very quickly, as they mobilize their large design community, and influence their clients, many of them global brands. What's more, the company will also serve as an inspiration to many other companies and designers around the world. "
The Principles of Circular Design
The Circular Design Principles, created in conjunction with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, have been developed to remove waste and pollution from design, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.
DS Smith's 5 Circular Design Principles are:
1. Protect brands and products - Designers must ensure that the packaging correctly protects the product it contains. Products that are damaged by improper packaging have an economic and environmental impact.
2. Do not use more materials than necessary - An optimized use of materials to manufacture packaging saves resources and reduces waste.
3. Design for Supply Cycle Efficiency - DS Smith designers deliver efficiencies by changing the design of products inside boxes for stacking on transportation vehicles.
4. Keep materials in use - Eliminate waste by keeping containers in use for as long as possible. They can "close the loop" for customers in 14 days, recycling packaging and turning it into new products.
5. Find a better way - They empower their designers to challenge the status quo and support clients on their journey to the circular economy.
At the online event, several DS Smith designers explained how they apply each of these five Circular Design Principles and how they offer a framework for designing more sustainable packaging solutions in collaboration with customers, many of whom are international brands with high-end goods. consumption in continuous movement. Thus, for example, Robyn Macdonald, Solutions Consultant, and Elena Fleming, Innovation and Concept Development Manager, among other experts, spoke.
The virtual meeting ended with questions from Internet users and responses from the speakers.
