Recyclability oriented packaging solutions for Sri Lankan export market: design development

Abstract

Recyclability oriented packaging solutions (ROPS) are designed to be compatible with established recycling systems and facilitate the users to organise their waste management systems. It assists the global need of achieving a sustainable economy and reduction of environmental damage. So, when exporting products to EU countries, current legislation requires that the product packaging be designed in a way facilitating its recycling systems. Sri Lanka is one of the major exporters of spices to the western continent. So, incorporating ROPS into spice products packaging is equally important as the product quality. When considering the amount of research done towards the design development of ROPS for export products in the western continent, Asian countries like Sri Lanka are still at the basic level. To fill this gap, this research was conducted as a packaging design development project for Sri Lankan black pepper products exported by Sri Lankan Small and Medium Entrepreneurs. Considering ‘recyclability’ as a key factor, design development methodology was structured into three phases. First phase includes identifying potential target groups within EU regions. Second phase adapts the potential user group, product range for design development. Third phase was to test the final design and analyse the final design concept. As further research, the developed concept of packaging structure can be applied and tested considering different materials, product ranges, and it’s possible to develop supportive machinery for manufacturing purposes.