perpetual

cost of single-use plastic

project overview: perpetual was an interdisciplinary project under SCAD's Design for Sustainability program, aimed at tackling the environmental and economic challenges posed by single-use foodware in Savannah's food and beverage industry.

By leveraging service design methodologies and fostering collaboration between government, restaurateurs, and sustainability advocates, we designed a scalable reusable foodware system that balances sustainability, profitability, and user convenience.

Jan- March 2024

Stakeholders: Perpetual, SCAD, Savannah Government, Restaurant Owners, City Council

Timeline: 10 weeks

Role: Lead for UX and Service Design

what i did:

as the lead for UX and service design, I:

led service design strategy: mapped the interconnected system of stakeholders, identified key pain points, and developed user-focused solutions and service models.
facilitated collaboration: designed and conducted co-creation workshops with diverse stakeholders, including restaurateurs, city officials, and environmental advocates, to identify actionable opportunities.
synthesized stakeholder insights: translated feedback into practical, scalable service solutions.
advanced UX research: conducted observational research and stakeholder interviews to inform user-centric design.
developed service models: Created four innovative models for reusable foodware systems, ensuring feasibility and stakeholder alignment:
1. The Milkman: Deposit-refund system.
2. The Subscriber: Monthly subscription-based access.
3. The Librarian: Fee-based penalties for delayed returns.
4. Grab & Go: Pay-per-use model with automatic charges.

Methodologies
Stakeholder Mapping: Visualized relationships among government agencies, businesses, and users to uncover leverage points.
Service Blueprints: Defined touchpoints and processes across the customer journey to streamline the reusable cup system.
Ecosystem Mapping: Illustrated the flow of materials, finances, and responsibilities within the system.
Co-Creation Workshops: Engaged stakeholders to collaboratively ideate solutions that align with real-world constraints.
Prototyping and Iteration: Developed low-fidelity prototypes of user journeys for stakeholder validation.
Methodologies
Lifecycle Thinking: Assessed environmental impacts from raw material extraction to reuse or recycling.
Circular Economy Frameworks: Incorporated principles of material recirculation and waste elimination.
Systems Thinking: Analyzed interconnected factors like policy, consumer behavior, and supply chains.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Quantified financial savings and ecological benefits of replacing single-use foodware.

strategy & methodologies

Collaboration and Real-World Application

This project exemplified the power of cross-sector collaboration

Partnered with the City of Savannah's Office of Sustainability and Alderman Nick Palumbo to align solutions with local policies and infrastructure.
Engaged restaurant owners and managers, such as Ava Pandiani (Starland Yard), to ensure solutions met operational needs and customer expectations.
Observed real-world behaviors at high-traffic venues and incorporated feedback into user-friendly designs.

Impact & Scope

Our team delivered actionable solutions with a clear pathway to implementation:

Proposed Pilot: Designed a closed-loop system for Starland Yard and Two Tides Brewing Co.
Scalable Framework: Created a replicable model that could be adapted for other cities.
Real-World Outcomes: Demonstrated potential cost savings of up to $10 billion annually if 20% of single-use foodware were replaced with reusable systems.