Temperature Sensitive Packaging
Developing a physical intervention that reduces frozen food waste.
DESIGN GOAL
The project focused on creating an intervention, keeping the UN Sustainable Development Goal # 12 in mind.
TEAM MEMBERS
Solo project
CASE STUDY TIMELINE
Nov 2019 ( 4 Weeks )
MY DESIGN PROCESS
Research
Insights
Ideation
Iteration
Prototyping
Research
The Sustainable Development Goal #12, put out by the UN focuses on “Responsible Consumption and Production” by the year 2030
The project focused on creating an intervention, keeping the United Nation's 12th Sustainable Development Goal in mind.
GOAL BREAKDOWN
The SDG lists a series of targets to achieve by 2030. The targets can be broken down into 3 main categories -
Of the 3 categories, I focused on identifying the reasons behind FOOD WASTAGE
WHERE IS FOOD WASTED?
From harvesting to cooking, food wastage can be seen in 3 main areas -
FROM THE FARM TO PLATE
Keeping an Indian context in mind, the various stages at which the food is handled and transported was observed -
Based on the research conducted, there are 4 primary reasons for food waste in households
Insights
REASONS FOR FOOD WASTE IN HOMES
In the context of household food waste, uncooked frozen foods are wasted the most
WHY FOCUS ON FROZEN FOODS?
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If left out at temperatures beyond room temperature (22 C / 71 F), frozen foods can go stale, and cannot be defrosted later.
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If not properly thawed, cooking frozen foods can remove most of the protein and nutrients
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Previously frozen foods can be re-frozen, only if defrosted properly
Ideation
THE INTERVENTION
Packaging that uses the concept of THERMOCHROMISM to display the effect of temperature on frozen foods, thus indicating when it has fully thawed.
THERMOCHROMISM is the property of substances to change color due to a change in temperature.
CONCEPT TESTING
Multiple types of thermochromic pigments, in a variety of colors, were identified and tested. Of the pigments tested, the selected pigment is a COLD-ACTIVATED THERMOCHROMIC PIGMENT IN THE COLOUR BLUE.
THERMOCHROMIC PACKAGING
When packaged, frozen food will be wrapped in a transparent material coated in cold-activated thermochromic pigment.
When left out to defrost, as the temperature of the food increases to room temperature, the color of the packaging will slowly disappear. Hence acting as an indicator for when the food is ready to be cooked/served.
THERMOCHROMIC PACKAGING
When talking to users, major insights gained were that users do not immediately consume the entire amount bought.
THERMOCHROMIC BOXING
Iteration
"For most seasonal fruits like strawberries and mangoes, I usually chop and freeze them, and consume them through the course of the next few months"
THERMOCHROMIC BOXING
In addition to the pre-packed thermochromic packaging available, a reusable box that users can use to store a variety of frozen items will be useful for freezing and storing homemade food correctly.