Many product solutions are designed around an important assumption: that people will use products exactly as intended.
Home / Many product solutions are designed around an important assumption: that people will use products exactly as intended. But what does that actually mean in practice? It often means assuming that reusable items will be: – used frequently and consistently over long periods – returned, stored, or carried without friction – cared for in ways that preserve their durability […]
We want to be sustainable – right? Let’s move away from plastic
Home / We want to be sustainable – right? Let’s move away from plastic We see this a lot in packaging decisions: teams assume that choosing a material perceived as sustainable automatically lowers impact. But packaging doesn’t work that way. Different materials stress the system in different places: – Paper bags often come with higher water and energy use in production […]
Packaging is not a materials decision, but a system choice
Home / Packaging is not a materials decision, but a system choice Packaging decisions are often treated as technical or material choices – Plastic versus paper – lighter versus heavier – Recyclable versus non-recyclable In practice, many organisations focus on improving one attribute at a time, usually in response to cost pressure, customer expectations, or […]
Improvement pathways to reduce carbon footprint and transition to a regenerative model
The project involved taking a deep analytical look at CMTP’s organizational footprint analysis and product footprint analysis of a key strategic key unit (SKU) and proposing, a) Options for continuous improvement to reduce the organizational carbon footprint b) Strategic options for transforming the business model to be regenerative, aligned with principles of circular economy for […]
Buy Less Demand More
“Don’t Buy This Jacket” This was a full-page ad in the New York Times by Patagonia in 2011 on their Black Friday sale to remind consumers what they should be doing! A message to buy less from a producer is quite rare and far from the norm. Usually, when we are browsing for a new […]
Looking at Preowned Goods in a New Light
Looking at Preowned Goods in a New Light We often drift to purchasing something new and shiny, fresh off the shelves, when we think of buying something. Retail and advertising industry techniques are also made to influence us into purchasing “unused” and “unopened” products by offering a perfect, clean look and an unboxing experience tailor-made […]
Rethinking the way we give gifts
Rethinking the way we give gifts Gift-giving has been an age-old practice and has evolved to fit different traditions and cultural norms over time. They were given on special occasions to display one’s affection or as incentives and rewards. But over time, this wholesome practice has turned into a well-oiled machine of consumerism. We, as […]
Why buy when we can borrow?
“You’ll Own Nothing and You’ll Be Happy,” A statement in an essay by Danish MP Ida Auken sparked countless debates about a dystopian future looming on the horizon. Yet we all tend to agree now that there is some truth behind the undeniable trend of accessing things for use without owning them. Be it, lending […]
Convertibles Are the New Black!
Convertibles Are the New Black! A famous saying that outlines the impact of textile and clothing is, “The most sustainable garment is the one that is never made!” With textile and clothing manufacturing generally involving an alarming amount of pollution while the finished garments have few recovery options for post-consumption waste, that statement makes perfect […]
A Product Can Still Be Functional Even Though It Is Imperfect
A Product Can Still Be Functional Even Though It Is Imperfect We dread to have our favorite kettles, toasters, mixers, or irons broke. Not only is it hard to repair them, having to let go of something that we liked and was working perfectly fine is also not an easy thing. What comes on top […]