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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.

One Planet Packaging

These materials, from Waste Watch (part of Keep Britain Tidy), have been developed to make explicit links between sustainability and packaging for students following GCSE level design and technology courses. The scheme of learning includes suggested activities for five active learning sessions, supported by the learning resources, student activity sheets, powerpoint slides and a case study.

These sessions enable students to:

  • Investigate a design opportunity
  • Write a specification
  • Develop a design concept
  • Make a prototype
  • Test a prototype

The learning resources can either be used by students or by the teacher as a resource for developing content-based presentations. Each learning resource includes objectives, key terms and their definitions, web resources and suggestions for activities and discussion, and is supported by the PowerPoint presentation.

Learning resource 1 – An introduction to packaging: Introduces the basic functions of the three main categories of packaging, including primary packaging, secondary packaging and transit packaging.

Learning resource 2 – Packaging trends: Explains the trends that are driving an increase in packaging and packaging waste. The resource explores the effect of consumer’s lifestyles and expectations on packaging design, including single-serve, ready meal, modified atmosphere, tamper-resistant and luxury packaging.

Learning resource 3 – Sustainability and the environment: Introduces the principles of zero-carbon, zero-waste, sustainable transport, local and sustainable materials, fair-trade and culture and explores how these can relate to packaging design.

Learning resource 4 – Designing for sustainability: Students are asked to prepare a presentation on a new technology or design that is based on bio-mimicry.

Learning resource 5 – Sustainable packaging: Explains the advantages and disadvantages of design strategies for sustainable packaging.

Learning resource 6 – Packaging material life cycles: Explains the life cycle of packaging from raw materials to disposal or re-use.

Learning resource 7 – Packaging policies and regulations: Explores the statutory and non-statutory regulations which aim to prevent over-packaging, increase the recycling of packaging, and minimise the negative effects of waste on the environment. Students consider the role of national government, local government, business and environmental charities.

Learning resource 8 – Packaging materials: Introduces how materials are selected on the basis of their physical and chemical, environmental and social properties. The resource looks in detail at the functional qualities and environmental impact of paper, paperboard, cardboard, plastic, glass, steel, aluminium and composite packing materials.

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