Giving Packaging a New Life

I recently watched a series of informational videos on the process of sorting and recycling consumer packaging, entitled "Giving Packaging a New Life" (link here).

As with many aspects of modern life, it is easy to under-estimate the complexity, energy and time involved in the recycling of packaging. I know that I have avoided giving it much thought, in the very same way that I'd rather not confront the process through which my steak arrives on my dish. This series of short videos provides a brief, but informative insight into the recycling process, and sheds light onto the rarely considered tasks.

The sorting process is an involved one. The current sorting process is very accurate, and largely automated. Different material is recognised by optical sorting, which uses infra-red/near-infra-red technology. The material is removed by pin-point compressed air jets. (My mind still boggles at the way in which the air jets can selectively remove tiny pieces while moving along a conveyor, or in free-fall).

As outlined in the videos, great energy/rescource savings can be made by recycling packaging. Recycled aluminium uses only 20% of the energy used in unrecycled aluminium. Tinplate, PET and aluminum can be re-used again and again without loss to the final product.

However, all this processing requires energy. As such, the sorting/recycling processes are still energy intensive (albeit less so). Thus, the greatest means of conservation is still reducing use.

This is a difficult task to tackle as an industrial designer. I think this means that designers must not ensure that their product is recyclable, but also to try to minimise resource and energy use in manufacture. Finally, it also places an onus on designers to ensure that their product warrants the energy and resources required in production in the first place.

PS The narrator in the videos is totally the same narrator from 'Deustch Warum Nicht' (produced by Deutch Welle and Goethe Institut).


The videos were produced by ECC Kohtes Klewes Bonn and realized by Film4Ma Köln.