GONE TOMORROW

winter 2021

Home compostable takeout containers designed for affordable sustainability.

A takeout meal among friends reveals disposable, travel-friendly takeout containers as a ritual part of the to-go meal. Ideal for when returnable containers won’t work, like road trips, a need for an environmentally conscious option is clear.

The goal becomes creating sustainable solution that can be as affordable to as many communities and restaurants as possible. Targeting sustainable solutions to low-income communities and restaurants burdened by the pandemic is important to mass adoption.

The target user is on the move, buying takeout food and taking it on the road. Having a cheap container that can move long distances, and be naturally and inexpensively disposed of at its end of life is important.

A number of materials are researched for the box structure, its food safe lining, and any printed instructions. Mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms grown around a filler substrate, is an affordable and practical solution with other benefits, like natural insulation.

A full life cycle analysis shows the production, distribution, use, and end of life for each box. They are produced over the course of 10 days, distributed, and after their end use they-and the food waste inside them-can be discarded in nature and disappear in a month.

Production photos detail how the mycelium-hemp structure is moulded into the boxes, and later baked to desiccate growth. After coating in food safe lining, they become stable and useable containers.

The boxes are designed with several affordances, making their use and disposal easy and delightful for every takeout connoisseur. Notably, extra deep volumes and a sauce well on the lid improve the eating experience.

The boxes are designed in two sizes, for entrees and sides, but can easily be reshaped and tailored to fit any meal. For the price of a gumball, the entree sized boxes are made to be as affordable as possible.