Improvemetns to Increase Sustainability in Supermarket Grocery Bagging

Logan RayFollow

School Name

Center for Advanced Technical Studies

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Consumer Science

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

What is one-way grocery bagging can be made more sustainable? If a convenient grocery bag rack is designed to accommodate reusable bags, then consumer behaviour will alter to become more sustainable and less wasteful by making the use of reusable bags more convenient and accessible to all. To achieve this, two procedures were used, the creation of a prototype, and a survey to collect consumer data and habits. The survey was designed to collect consumer data including demographics, habits, preferences, etc. From this, five key data points and trends were observed. One: most people shop in-store, stressing the necessity of sustainable practices. Two: the majority of people own one or more reusable bags. Three: reusables are seldom used due to forgetfulness and inconvenience. Four: most people wish to shop more sustainably. And Five: single-use plastic bags are unreliable, improperly disposed of, and overused. Nextly, a reusable bag rack was created with the intent of accommodating reusable bags of average tote size to promote their use. A wooden prototype, Prototype II, was designed with structure, strength, shape, and convenience in mind. The dimensions were designed to hold a tote of a 13x13x15 inch body with 10-inch handles. The prototype is also intended to hold 50+ lbs, the maximum for most medium totes. After testing, the rack was successfully capable of holding the desired size bag and of supporting 50+ lbs. This can comfortably accommodate even exceptionally heavy grocery orders, such as cans, milk, melons, soda, etcetera. This accommodation will drastically incentivize the usage of reusable bags by increasing convenience. In the future, the project will shift towards maximizing and testing convenience, with consumer tests and feedback.

Location

RITA 371

Start Date

3-23-2024 9:30 AM

Presentation Format

Oral Only

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 23rd, 9:30 AM

Improvemetns to Increase Sustainability in Supermarket Grocery Bagging

RITA 371

What is one-way grocery bagging can be made more sustainable? If a convenient grocery bag rack is designed to accommodate reusable bags, then consumer behaviour will alter to become more sustainable and less wasteful by making the use of reusable bags more convenient and accessible to all. To achieve this, two procedures were used, the creation of a prototype, and a survey to collect consumer data and habits. The survey was designed to collect consumer data including demographics, habits, preferences, etc. From this, five key data points and trends were observed. One: most people shop in-store, stressing the necessity of sustainable practices. Two: the majority of people own one or more reusable bags. Three: reusables are seldom used due to forgetfulness and inconvenience. Four: most people wish to shop more sustainably. And Five: single-use plastic bags are unreliable, improperly disposed of, and overused. Nextly, a reusable bag rack was created with the intent of accommodating reusable bags of average tote size to promote their use. A wooden prototype, Prototype II, was designed with structure, strength, shape, and convenience in mind. The dimensions were designed to hold a tote of a 13x13x15 inch body with 10-inch handles. The prototype is also intended to hold 50+ lbs, the maximum for most medium totes. After testing, the rack was successfully capable of holding the desired size bag and of supporting 50+ lbs. This can comfortably accommodate even exceptionally heavy grocery orders, such as cans, milk, melons, soda, etcetera. This accommodation will drastically incentivize the usage of reusable bags by increasing convenience. In the future, the project will shift towards maximizing and testing convenience, with consumer tests and feedback.