The second half of the book contains practical information on the development of sustainable packaging prototypes, followed by a wide range of package-as-product prototype explorations. Graduate students at the Savannah College of Art and Design in the US were assigned the task of developing viable secondary-use packaging for products in common use.
Successfully creating a truly functional secondary use can be quite beneficial, in that it prevents material – even sustainable material – from entering the waste stream too quickly (if at all). While the cradle-to-cradle (C2C) principles apply to materials that are reused in perpetuity, these package-as-product ideas can prevent the C2C loops from being too constrictive. The goal, then, is not to create a packaging that makes a product last a lifetime – what product, after all, lasts that long? – but to extend the functionality of the packaging beyond present boundaries. Simply put, we can reduce waste by increasing function.

Yichun Chen, Binder clip dispenser
Binder clips do what they need to do very well, but while they’re waiting around for duty they have a tendency to make a nuisance of themselves. The objective of this project was to provide the retail box with a secondary dispensing function. The packaging was also designed to offer two positions for use, a tabletop position and a wall-hanging position. An easy opening top also allows for easy reloading. The roll-back top provides a simple and cost-effective mechanism for creating the kick-stand. The crescent-shaped die-cuts on the sides firmly catch the rounded dust flaps when the tray is pulled from the box, which results in a quick-catch system that holds the tray open so that the clips can easily be reloaded.

Larissa Thut, Candle holder set
Paper lanterns have a long tradition in Asian cultures, and they have also been used in the West to mark special occasions. With the goal of creating a set of votive candle holders that also function as their own packaging, the challenge was to make them small enough and aesthetically pleasing, while at the same time ensuring that they did not become a fire hazard. The package of four paper lanterns is supported by a base that also acts as a refillable storage container for the votives.

Jon Orchin, Torch and lampshade
The product here – a compact torch for outdoor activities – is versatile in its own right, in that it offers a secondary use as a stand-alone ‘candle’. This is achieved by unscrewing the flanged reflective part of the torch, and placing it on its end to create a stand. The idea for this packaging arose from the desire to further the simple ingenuity of this secondary use by diffusing the light into a softer and more evenly dispersed glow. The insert required to hold the product firmly during distribution has been dematerialized as far as possible. The yellow paper picks up on the colour scheme for the brand.

Scott Boylston, Designing Sustainable Packaging, Laurence King Publishing, London 2009