Postal and Anti-Shock Packaging
The current market indicates the general trend to more shopping online and main street stores in town. The increase in online shopping now and into the future will result in a demand increase postal packaging, as items are shipped around the country in bulk crates to a distribution outlet, and then are shipped back out individually to the buyers. This increases demand for shock resistant packaging as there is an increasing amount of parcels being shipped around New Zealand.
This creates a market for paper by removing all plastic components from postal packaging. I therefore designed a paper mesh that would provide shock resistance like the more traditional foam, plastic, bubble wrap or polystyrene packaging.
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Paper products can replace all plastic that one would normally find in postage of small to medium sized product postal packaging.
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My product protects fragile objects as they are shipped preventing damage
As petroleum and fossil fuels are becoming less sustainable, plastic is getting harder to produce. Replacements for plastics are already getting developed and now is a perfect opportunity for the paper industry to come up with its own.
My product uses a paper mesh resembling a birds nest to protect the product inside. The shock resistance of the paper can be adjusted by varying the spacing and density of the “birds nest” webbing. This means paper packaging could replace a wide variety of the currently use shock resistant plastic packaging.
It has rolled up paper sticks inside it to keep it strong structurally and a water resistant jacket will keep it dry. Since it holds all the properties of normal packaging it should be adopted relatively quickly and will be a good way to increase demand for the paper industry.
Timeline
2016:
Idea needs to be proposed to the paper industry.
2018-2024:
Materials need to be made tested and developed
2020:
Prototypes will be sent to customers and the product will be modified according to their responses
2022:
Some NZ Factory adjustments need to be made for mass production
2022-2070:
Other companies will make attempts to find other alternatives with their materials so developments will be needed to make the paper the cheapest option. Needs to be biodegradable/recyclable and marketed with being environmentally friendly
2024:
All NZ factories will have adjustments made to incorporate this product
2025:
Fossil fuels will be running very low so other companies will be actively finding alternatives. The paper industry must develop the product accordingly to keep it above the opposition
2055:
Concept 4.3 can be implemented using the same materials for the mesh to increase demand further