Legges & Wye Valley Brewery Visit

Last week a visit was taken to both Legges and the Wye Valley Brewery. This was to gain a first hand view of what was sold and a bit of background about the two companies. 

Legges was a quick stop as the shop is relatively small and there weren't many questions to be asked. Pictures were taken of the condiments that will potentially be placed in the final packaging. It was useful to gain an idea of the range of products and sizes. Also the design of the labelling was useful to take into account as then it can be associated with the design of the packaging. The main condiments to go with the beers will be Chutneys, jams and sauces (BBQ or Ketchup).

The Visit to the Wye Valley Brewery was more substantial as we were taken on a tour of the factory where beer is made for both casks and bottling. The brewery has been a family business for 26 years and is a local distributor. The Casks are distributed to pubs, hotels and restaurants where as the bottles go into small shops (such as Legges) pubs and the bigger supermarkets in the Midlands. Locality is a major factor within this company and they try to buy in everything local. 82% of the Hops come from within 7 miles of the brewery as well as other ingredients. The waste hops are also turned into compost and are then redistributed back out to the local farmers (fitting in well with recycling and the bigger green issues).

- 94% of the beer is cask sold (very big market)

- The repackaging will not only produce a greener standard but will help to boost sales of the bottled beer and promote the 'bottled conditioned' nature of the beer.

- The common ground both Wye Valley and Legges have is that they are both small, regionally based companies. The interest is in the craft of the product.

When taking part in the Q&A session many questions were raised as to the spec of the packaging and just general queries. The main factors when questions were asked were:

- Flexible packaging for all beers would be preferred (cost effective)

- Transport and storage in quantity is a big factor and must be considered

- Beer has to be stored upright due to the sediment in the bottom

- Design for the broad market

- Universal packaging rather than seasonal

- Three items per pack would be appropriate

- Colours - Cream and Black of current packaging don't need to be adhered to (link with Legges)

- Logo must not be changed

- Brewery have just developed a stamp logo to highlight the 'bottle conditioned' nature of the beer ( can be incorporated)

- Second usage for the packaging would be a bonus (look up demographic stuff about who buys food and ale)

- Mix Traditional with modern

- The primary branding is through the beer as people find the products through the beer rather than the other way round.

- The gift packs will be sold in small shops as Legges would not be able to produce the quantity needed for bigger supermarket chains.

- "The perception of something more eco-friendly is preferred not so manufactured as well as being in-keeping with the business"

Post Legges and Wye Valley Visit & Q+A - Gemma

Hi Gemma - could you pop up some initial thinking post client visits etc here.. Some folks have also popped-up some useful pics as well - perfect for blogs etc.. Trying to get all to treat their blogs as a 'journal' with a x-section of refs etc - sent a similar post to others too just prompting them to put up initial thinking/refs etc too.

Ta,


Andy

Task 3 - Researching 'Sustainable Packaging.'

Being asked to design a sustainable shoe box with multiple uses I undertook some research into the general market of sustainable packaging and shoe box packaging. 

This is an example of the re-design of Macdonalds packaging when it became sustainable and used less waste product. It began to focus on its impact on the environment in the 1990s. This video gives a good overview of the project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9ejG83lrX4 

When looking at shoe box design the biggest hit I found was Puma's 'Fuse project' They completely reinvented the shoe box and gave the packaging secondary usage. Link to  an article: http://graphicartsmag.com/news/2010/06/reinventing-the-shoe-box 

Nike soon followed Puma and released their packaging, still made from 100 percent recycled fiber, but it has been re-designed to reduce the fiber content by approximately 30 percent. Link: http://www.nikebiz.com/crreport/content/environment/4-7-0-case-study-rethink-the-box.php

These are just a few examples from the range I looked at. My recyclable shoe box design has been targeted at the young female audience. Its dual use enables it to be turned into a small dolls house or shelving for small ornaments. This is easy to assemble using cut and fold marks indicated on the box. (design still in working progress, not all folds figured yet) Minimal ink will be used so the consumer can decorate the box how they wish. The ink used will be vegetable and the cardboard 100% recyclable.

Click to enlarge

Working progress prototype 1...

Food for thought.

Geodesic dome house. Part of a university project in Israel. The Neighborhood is designed to house the students of the Ecovillage/Permaculture Design course. More info at: www.kibbutzlotan.com/creativeEcology/ga/index.htm

Eco design chair constructed from cardboard. No adhesives used to fix together, just folds. Brilliant example of design.

Recyclable packaging task - transport two oranges.

Straw bale building - Eco housing

Relating straw bale housing to the sustainable design manifesto, below explains why it meets the points listed: 

1. Design to satisfy real needs as opposed to transient, fashionable or market-driven needs.

- Creates housing with minimal damage to the surroundings as all resources are natural and re newable

- Goes beyond the norm in terms of building materials

- Cuts costs of bills - less need for heating (very good insulator) 

2. Design to minimise the ecological footprint of the product/material/service product, i.e. reduce resource consumption, including energy and water.

- re-using straw bales reduces waste product
- reduces the need for excess materials

5. Design to exclude the use of substances toxic or hazardous to human and other forms of life at all stages of the product/material/service product's lifecycle.

- No toxic substances are used to treat the straw
- Render on the house is usually a lime render.

7. Design to use locally available materials and resources wherever possible (thinking globally but acting locally)

- Straw is locally available
- Render for walls is sourced from the ground, dependant on the area

12. Design to foster debate and challenge the status quo surrounding existing products/materials/service products.

- Different type of design, go against the norm, due to this it creates debate

14. Design to create more sustainable products/materials/service products for a more sustainable future.
- straw bale housing creates eco sustainable housing
- energy efficient 

Reflections on "A Crude Awakening - The Oil Crash"

This documentary is a complete contrast to "An Inconvenient Truth" despite highlighting similar issues. This documentary gives you straight facts and says it how it is where as Al Gore's documentary was more personal, made to tug a the heart strings, when mentioning deaths in the family for example.

This was broadcast in 2006, at probably a time when the lack of oil was slowly starting to become apparent. This documentary I think was more informative and made you want to listen. With the Al Gore documentary you felt as if it was a slight guilt trip into changing your ways. 

Reflections on "An Inconvenient Truth"

"It's difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it"

This was a quote for Upton SInclair and one Al Gore uses to explain mans ignorance towards the issue of climate change. Throughout the documentary he discusses different issues and what was noticed was that they all related back to the same problem- a problem that will never disappear - this problem is people.

People are the main cause of pollution, overcrowding due to over population and producers of the many issues Al Gore raises. These being re - emergence of old diseases, overuse of non-renewable resources and creation of emissions to name a few. 

The idea he pitches is that if people change the world can change. By introducing new ideas and innovative ways to reduce the waste we produce and to help protect the planet from further damage rather than helping to destroy it. 

- Greener cars = Less emissions

- Renewable resources = prevention of extinction of fossil fuels

- Recycling = Smaller Landfills

"Pulp and paper is the third largest industrial polluter to air, water and land in the US and Canada" (source: reach for the unbleached foundation)

A lot of people see the need to become green important but don't know how or are too lazy to try, much like the title of the film, an inconvenience. Others believe it's not their responsibility and if there was truth in the climate change scenario then they wouldn't be around to see the damage anyway. However, the issue of climate is progressing positively through the years, with more bio-degradable materials being used, an increase in recycling and introduction of hybrid cars. The issue has become more than political.

Designers are innovators of change - they lead the way for trends and can push the people towards helping the planet. From simple to complex - from re-using your shopping bag to creating renewable energy sources. This essentially acts as a snowball effect - once it starts the rest follow. People produced the problem and it's the people that can prevent the problem.