This is to discuss my latest blog post, Green with Envy.
I recently
presented at Green Biz’s second annual Greener by Design
Conference in San Francisco. One of the major discussion topics was the
impact of green innovation on product design and packaging. There were a lot of
interesting perspectives shared from speakers like Adam Lowry at Method, and
companies such as Wal-Mart, Microsoft, and Terracycle.
I had the
pleasure of presenting on the green aspects of the Voodoo Envy 133
packaging. You may have read snippets in press coverage from Reuters, TreeHugger.com and Triplepundit.com. If you didn’t, I think
it’s worth sharing and opening a discussion on.
We never
intended the Voodoo Envy 133 packaging to “scream “green.” We wanted it to
compliment the product and brand experience, while still addressing the three
Rs - reduce, reuse, and recycle – in a subtle yet relevant way.
First, we
tried hard to reduce the size of the box and eliminate any throw away materials
that weren’t needed. For example, instead of coating the system in protective
plastic sheets and including a cleaning cloth, we opted for shipping the unit
in a micro-fiber sleeve. The sleeve protected the unit during shipping and
served double duty as a cleaning cloth once unpackaged.
We also
wanted the package to have some long-term usefulness. I collect a lot of really
nice packaging for inspiration, but most of it ends up doing nothing more than
collecting dust and taking up a ton of space in my garage. We wanted the Voodoo
Envy 133 box to look good enough to keep and be functional enough to put to
use. To that end, the box has a classic rectangular form, neutral colors
and a subtle embossed Voodoo logo in the corner. This simple aesthetic,
intentionally void of loud images, marketing materials or retail info, allows
it to fit naturally into any setting. We also constructed the box so the inner
trays can be removed, making it perfect for storing small collectibles or
family photos and heirlooms.
Even though
recycling is the lesser of the 3R’s and definitely not as important to us as
the first two in this case, we made the packaging out of 100 percent recyclable
materials for those who must discard.
So there
you have it – all three Rs in a sweet little package. What say ye?
Are any of you re-using the box? Any good examples? Suggestions? Let me know here.
Message Edited by iMaxx on 05-27-2009 10:17 AM
