Post on 13-Jul-2015
The FootPrint Problem of Shrinkwrapping
Sarah Jordan
The Toy LEnding Library
• A great way to provide toys to children whose families can’t afford much
• However, children are messy and diseases spread easily through communal toys, so each toy must be cleansed and sanitized upon return to the Library
Shrinkwrapping
• After being sanitized, it is required that each toy be shrinkwrapped to “ensure” cleanliness
• Shrinkwrapping not only wastes plastic but requires electricity to heat the plastic to the point that is conforms to the shape of the toy
• Many people remove the plastic inside the library and then don’t check the toys out--we are required to re-package them
A MANAGEMENT ProBLEM?
• Management and clients could simply trust that we have sanitized each toy
• However, many parents and providers refuse to check out a toy if it is not shrinkwrapped
Alternative Solutions
• Seems like a packaging problem, so if we could find a sustainable way to package toys and ensure they were clean, we could eliminate the need to shrinkwrap.
• We could provide each toy with a reusable plastic bag or fabric sack
• But need a method of ensuring the toy hasn’t been contaminated since the last use
Sustainable Shrinkwrapping?
• We could require that people return the plastic the toy was in
• The used plastic could be melted down into sheets to be reused
• But how do we ensure that people bring back the plastic?
• Creates the need for more energy to melt plastic down and re-form
Alternative Materials
• Need packaging that will allow children and parents to see the toy and also hold it together without allowing for any kind of contamination
• Regular plastic baggies?
• Require that bags be returned and reused
• But what about larger objects?
• Cellulose packaging?
• Recyclable but still requires heat for forming
Reusable Boxes?
• Collect different boxes for storing objects
• Many sizes for all the different kinds of toys
• Boxes can be brought back and reused
• Plastic boxes would allow for viewing, would keep toy pieces together, and would keep the toys clean
• But...
• Need to sanitize the boxes too--> more waste
Conclusion
No easy answer--every means of storage available right now is going to have some kind of impact on the environment along its path of use