In everyday life, packaging is as important as the product it contains. The material used for packaging and whether it was designed with ecological considerations in mind are significant factors. This thesis focuses on creating gift packaging for a company to give to its business partners at the end of the year. The aim of the thesis was to design and produce packaging based on principles of ecological design. The theoretical part of the thesis first describes the current materials and methods used in gift packaging design using different materials. Then, it focuses on ecological design and the selection of appropriate materials, including cardboards made from invasive plant species such as acacia, goldenrod, and Japanese knotweed. In Slovenia, the processing of invasive plants is already underway as part of the Applause project, supported by the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering. In our research, we examined three types of cardboard made from invasive plants and identified the one with the best physical and mechanical properties for our final products. We followed ecological packaging design guidelines to create an environmentally friendly product that is functional, sturdy, and uses as little material and glue as possible. At the same time, we aimed to create packaging that is visually appealing to consumers. We designed two different types of packaging, each containing three different products. We created a product made from invasive plant cardboard, improving the segment of secondary gift packaging, enhancing the ecological aspect, and reducing the amount of material used compared to current practices. In the experimental part of the thesis, we presented our ideas, tested materials with different methods, described the packaging design process, and the final manufacturing phase, which includes printing and cutting the packaging. We also analyzed the printing properties of the different cardboards used. The result of this work are two different gift packaging designs made from acacia, Japanese knotweed, and goldenrod cardboard. The thesis concludes with the final research results, potential improvements, and guidelines for ecological gift packaging design.
|