ABSTRACT
This paper focuses on the study of disposable plastics and their particular use in packaging in the food industry. Using common methodologies to product design and food design, a broader view to more sustainable practices in packaging was adopted considering different points of view, analyzed through an informal brief study (consumer/designer/producer). The containers for soups, broths and creams have been carefully observed in the take-away sector (a growing market in Portugal) on commercial areas such as supermarkets. The main purpose of this research was to understand the presence of disposable plastics in our day-to-day life, its impact on the environment and how materials like glass can be brought back to use as part of a sustainable strategy. This approach has allowed the acquisition of valuable information and tools that can be applied to new alternatives to the current models of consumerism.
