Abstract
This case study describes a special edition of the European Project Semester at the course Sustainable Packaging Design and Innovation at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (Fall Semester 2017). In this special edition, unique cooperation took place between 12 parties. The parties were three research institutes, six universities, and three companies. Some parties have developed an educational module focused upon sustainable and circular packaging design, including the use of a dedicated tool for life cycle assessment. This module was embedded in the regular EPS. At The Hague University of Applied Sciences, an international class of 16 students worked in four teams on a real-life design assignment. They were offered a wide range of lectures, workshops, pitches, and presentations. The chapter concludes with a review of the followed processes and organizational, managerial, and practical concerns. Although run as a unique edition, all parties discuss to continue this cooperation.
TopSetting The Stage
The uniqueness of this edition lies in the fact that it involved twelve parties working closely together. The edition was not only a success in terms of cooperation but also highly beneficial to the participating students. The benefits for the students were achieved by a large series of lectures, presentations, and workshops by experts and scholars in (packaging) sustainability, marketing, design, and research. This makes the described EPS edition stand out as an extraordinary event compared to the usual program. The usual EPS set-up offers a design project focused upon a problem where sustainable packaging should be designed by the participating students. An external party usually gives the design project, typically a company supplying a realistic design assignment. The design project is supported by lectures, both by regular staff as external speakers, workshops, brainstorm sessions, excursions, and other activities as team-pitches and presentations (also by participating students). The main objective of this large variety of educational activities is to give students a broad view of the project, to stimulate teamwork (in the international set-up of EPS, six nationalities involved), and to practice working on complex problems with multiple stakeholders.
The EPS has joined a unique collaboration between three research institutes, six universities, and three companies for the special edition. More specifically, the parties are given here:
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Research institutes:
− Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV), an institute advising and inspiring companies on sustainable packaging by offering tailor-made advice, factual knowledge, and practical tools (KIDV, 2022).
− Top Institute Food & Nutrition (TiFN), a public-private partnership for multi- and interdisciplinary research in food and nutrition (TiFN, 2022).
− Netherlands organization for applied scientific research (TNO) is an independent research organization connecting people and knowledge to create innovations that boost the competitive strength of industry and the well-being of society in a sustainable way (TNO, 2022).
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Universities:
− University of Twente (UTwente) at Enschede (UT, 2022).
− University of Groningen (UG) at Groningen (UG, 2022).
− Wageningen University & Research (WUR) at Wageningen (WUR, 2022).
− HAS University of Applied Sciences at Den Bosch (HAS, 2022).
− HvA Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences at Amsterdam (HvA, 2022).
− THUAS University of Applied Sciences at The Hague, Industrial Design Engineering (IPO) (THUAS, 2022).
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Companies:
− EasyFairs, an international company hosting trade shows, conferences, congresses, concerts, and sporting fixtures (EasyFairs, 2022).
− Struik Foods Europe, a food company, specialized in soups and broths (Struik, 2022).
− Wessanen, a food company with a sustainable attitude towards health for both consumers and the planet (Wessanen is now called Ecotone).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Prototype: A first or preliminary version of a device or a product to show or test some features.
Industrial Design Engineering: Studies that combine the knowledge of industrial engineering with design exploration and research.
Behavior: The way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially towards others.
Parties: Stakeholders interested and involved in a project or activity.
Debriefing Meeting: Reunion about a completed activity or undertaking.
Cooperation: The action or process of working together to the same end.
Packaging: Materials used to wrap or protect goods.
Sustainable Packaging: Development and use of packaging which results in improved sustainability, which reduces the environmental impact and ecological footprint.