User centred design and energy efficient packaging collection infrastructure supporting circular future lifestyles

¹ Research Institutes of Sweden, Sven Hultins Plats 5, vån 4, 412 58 Göteborg, Sweden
² Elisava Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, La Rambla 30-32, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
³ Semcon, Lindholmsallén 2, 417 80 Göteborg, Sweden

^* Corresponding author: mordonez@elisava.net

Abstract

The collection and recycling of packaging and life cycle assessments have traditionally been developed from a technical perspective, not including the actors in the chain. How recycling should be done depends on who you ask, and whether you look at the issue from an energy, material, legal or user perspective. FTI, the Packaging and Newspaper Collection organization is responsible for better circularity and collecting these fractions in Sweden’s municipalities. When recyclable materials end up in the wrong place, it causes problems leading to increased energy use in the life cycle. The ongoing project Tjårven, aims to reduce energy use in connection with packaging collection, as well as potential energy gains in the second stage of the packaging life cycle, by redesigning packaging collection from a user centred perspective. To do this, design interventions are developed based on observed and self-reported user behaviour, a literature review of state-of-the-art collection infrastructure and an understanding of the system developed using actor-based LCA methodology. The latter methodology is used to show the energy use in the lifecycle, including the actions of the actors in the chain. The interventions developed will be tested through a case study that will be evaluated to see if it helps to achieve more energy efficient collection infrastructure, allowing for better circularity and therefore more sustainable future lifestyles. The present article presents the first part of the project, summarizing the results from the user centred observations, literature review and initial actor-based LCA model.