From linear to circular: An innovation strategy for MIscanthus based sustainable packaging

Abstract

This thesis presents a circular innovation strategy for Miscanthus based packaging. In the wold, more and more plastic packaging is being used. A large part of the used plastics is single-use plastic packaging that is only used for a couple of minutes and then discarded. The discarded plastic packaging stays in the environment for hundreds of years. A solution to this is shifting from a single-use plastic packaging that does not degrade and uses a fossil resource, towards a new type of paper packaging that degrades when ended up in the environment and is from a renewable source. Miscanthus based packaging can fulfil this need. Elgra is a company that cultivates Miscanthus and is looking for new paper packaging applications. To come to a design challenge, an extensive analysis is performed on the internal and external context of Miscanthus and paper packaging. From this analysis, three different market criteria are formulated: -Closed systems have a controllable environment -A constant demand reduces market fluctuations -The paper industry is complex From these market criteria, the market of Schiphol airport was chosen to introduce Miscanthus based packaging. It meets all three criteria and can be a local for local packaging. From the market criteria, a design challenge is formulated. This thesis answers the following design challenge: Design a circular innovation strategy for Miscanthus based packaging at Schiphol, with a local for local approach, taking into consideration the complex system of papermaking. A deep dive into the market of Schiphol showed that introducing Miscanthus packaging at KLM catering services (KCS) is the most beneficial for Elgra and KCS. The design challenge is answered by presenting four different design artefacts that illustrate four different strategic routes that can be taken. The artefacts are implemented using a local for local approach, this means that the packaging is cultivated, produced, distributed, used and collected locally. In addition, an LCA is performed to measure the environmental impact of the four different artefacts. It showed that the 3D moulded products which were mechanically pulped had the lowest impact. To validate if the market fits the four design artefacts, a value proposition canvas is filled in. The final artefact which is the most likely to be implemented is the beauty case. This artefact illustrates how Miscanthus packaging needs to be pulped using mechanical pulping and is 3D moulded into its shape. The roadmap that is presented shows that in the first horizon, a first Miscanthus packaging (for example the beauty case) is implemented at KCS. The goal is to set up a viable business with Miscanthus packaging at is core. The second horizon of the roadmap has the goal to professionalise the business by buying production machinery to produce Miscanthus packaging in house. The third and last horizon has as a focus on expanding the business to produce packaging from other renewable crops with its own production facility, still fitting the local for local approach.