Design guidelines for business-to-consumer reusable packaging. A circular economy approach

Authors

  • Cyntia Santos Malaguti de Sousa University of São Paulo (Brazil)
  • Caio Dutra Profirio de Souza University of São Paulo (Brazil)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/9252021

Keywords:

packaging design, reuse, circular economy, user-centred design

Abstract

Within the circular strategies for packaging items, reusing is an approach considered in order to preserve more embedded value in terms of energy, labour and materials, instead of other alternatives, such as recycling. While that has already been adopted at scale in Business-to-Business packaging applications, solutions in a Business-to-Consumer approach remain less explored. This study reports a preliminary framework about the benefits and limitations of Business-to-Consumer reusable packaging applications, relying on data obtained by related literature review, opportunistic semi-structured interviews with users and web survey. As a result, it provides a systematization of design guidelines that may contribute to the development of Business-to-Consumer reusable packaging, an approach considered relevant, but usually overlooked, that could deliver functionally and aesthetically improved packaging that can conveniently benefit both users and manufacturers.

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Author Biographies

Cyntia Santos Malaguti de Sousa, University of São Paulo (Brazil)

Designer and PhD, She is a Full Professor at the School of Architecture and Urbanism. She carries out research on sustainability, future studies and material culture.
E-mail: cyntiamalaguti@usp.br

Caio Dutra Profirio de Souza, University of São Paulo (Brazil)

Designer, holds a specialization course in Material Culture and Consumption. He carries out research in user-centred design, design for sustainability.
E-mail: caiodutra@usp.br

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Nature’s Path granola in a reusable jar (credit: Loop). AGATHÓN 09 | 2021

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Published

22-06-2021

How to Cite

Malaguti de Sousa, C. S. and Dutra Profirio de Souza, C. (2021) “Design guidelines for business-to-consumer reusable packaging. A circular economy approach”, AGATHÓN | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, 9(online), pp. 254–267. doi: 10.19229/2464-9309/9252021.

Issue

Section

Design | Research & Experimentation

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