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DesignNewswire · COMO, Italy ·

PackZero Team Is Honored with the Bronze A' Design Award for PackZero Reusable Package in Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design

PackZero Team acknowledged for sustainable products, projects and green design by the international grand jury of the 2019 - 2020 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 23, 2020 /DesignNewswire/ PackZero Reusable Package by PackZero Team, designed for Packzero, has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The award was conferred within the 2019 - 2020 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

The Bronze A' Design Award Explained

The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.

More About PackZero Reusable Package

PackZero is a reusable packaging system for online retail delivery. The inflatable package protects products during shipping and deflates automatically when opened. The package is made of durable biodegradable material that research estimates can be used up to 100 times. Three package sizes are offered. Users return each package to a collection bin placed in subway stations, campuses, offices and other public spaces, where a pedal and a roller flatten and compress the package for transport. Central hubs are set in places people visit often, which reduces total delivery distance.

About PackZero Team

Team PackZero is from California, USA. They have three lovely team members: Yanhui Ban, Ruoyi An, and Shijie Luan. They form their team in a class named IXD Consumer Product, at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. They are enthusiastic about sustainable design and they have a strong belief that design can make our world a better place to live. They chose the shipping package as their touch point to solve the environmental problems and they came out with the PackZero product system which can make profound environmental impacts.

Award Record

With this recognition, PackZero Team is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.

About the A' Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design Award

The A' Sustainable Product Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good sustainable products by leading designers and brands worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to sustainable product designers, green product manufacturers, eco-friendly product brands and industrial designers from all countries. Typical entries include sustainable projects, environment friendly designs, recycled, upcycled and bio-degradable products. The awarded sustainable product designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/sustainable-product

About A' Design Award & Competition

Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project
PackZero Reusable Package
Function
Reusable Package
Category
Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design
Discipline
Industrial Design
Industry
Sustainability
Colors
Cadet Blue, White Smoke, Sea Green, Dark Sea Green and Dark Gray
Images
5
Client
Packzero

The Recognition

Laureate
PackZero Team
Country
United States of America
Recognition
Bronze A' Design Award
Edition
2019 - 2020
Design ID
#102970

Credits

Team
Yanhui Ban, Ruoyi An and Shijie Luan

Design Details

Unique Properties
Packzero proposes to transform the current resource depleting online retail distribution system, with a circular delivery network that combines inflatable reusable packaging with hybrid pickup and delivery experience. The Packzero system will build central hubs at locations that users frequent or find easily accessible, thereby reducing overall product miles. The reusable package is made of durable biodegradable material, which research estimates can be potentially used up to 100 times.
Inspiration
Our inspiration came from the insight that people only need the products themselves and shipping boxes simply provide protection. It is basic knowledge but is often overlooked by many of us. Therefore, we decided to make the shipping boxes and packaging provide protection while at the same time be reusable and sustainable. Our team had several field trips to large distribution centers and logistic companies in Los Angeles, interviewing consumers and practitioners in the logistics industry. We also interviewed several material experts for advice.
Research
We have conducted a variety of research, including competitive research, trend analyses, future castings, user interviews, user journey mapping, field study, expert interviews, posture study, and usability testing. Based on the research, we analyzed the pain points people have and brainstormed possible solutions. We made many prototypes of last-mile transportation, pickup hubs, returning bins, packages, and interface. Then we iterated the design through user testing. Our final design minimizes the use of power and emissions cost in the system. It is also more compatible with user behaviors.
Challenge
The major challenge is in regards to the material; we want it to be eco-friendly but also durable. We interviewed different experts and got an array of ideas. We will keep researching materials to find a better solution.
Realization and Technology
MarinaTex (made from fish waste and alga) liquid wood(biopolymer comes from pulp-based lignin) Fabric made of grape Waste (vinyl alternative) PLA/ Polylactic acid (generated from corn) Milk Protein
Operation and Interaction
Users can select Packzero services while shopping online, then online retailers use Packzero packages to protect their products. When users get the package and open it, the package automatically deflates. The next step is returning the Pack Zero package to returning bins in places like subway stations, campuses, big companies, and public spaces. To operate the bin, just press the pedal and insert the package. The roller pulls the package in, flattening and compressing the package for transport.
Project Duration and Location
The project started in September 2019 in Pasadena, California, and finished in December of 2019. The project is from a class called "IXD Consumer Product" at Art Center College of Design
Specifications
Reusable packages have three sizes: 170 x 245 mm / 220 x 245 mm / 290 x 445 mm. The Return bin's dimensions are 90 x 70 x 140 cm.
Keywords
Package, Sustainable, System Design, Package Design

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