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