For my sustainable design studio project, I was tasked with researching and identifying a sustainability project to be addressed through design. After conducting research and interviews, I decided to focus on the extensive amount of trash produced by the dining system at the University of Oregon and tackle the issue of disposable packaging and food waste created by eating on campus To address this, I designed a set of reusable lids and a complementary reusable carrying system specifically designed for the reusable plates, bowls and trays that will be reimplemented in campus dining. These reusable lids and carrying system could eliminate the disposable plastic and paper packaging for the nearly 15,000 meals distributed at the University of Oregon and thrown away in landfills every day. By implementing reusable lids to be circulated within the dining system and that make transporting food easier, this would significantly decrease waste at the university level and encourage students to save leftovers as well.
