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Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'New York-based designer <a href="http://snobbydesign.com/" target="_blank">Aaron Mickelson</a> has developed a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/packaging-design/" target="_blank">packaging design</a> concept he calls “<a href="http://disappearingpackage.com/" target="_blank">The Disappearing Package</a>,” complete with a series of working prototypes that illustrate how packaging waste might be eliminated by letting the product itself be the packaging. Mickelson developed the “Disappearing Package” concept as his master's thesis at <a href="http://www.pratt.edu/" target="_blank">Pratt Institute</a>. For his project, he developed innovative methods for eliminating the packages that wrap five well-known household brands: Tide PODS laundry detergent, OXO containers, Twinings Tea Bags, Nivea Bar Soap, and Glad Trash Bags.1
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'Mickelson packages Glad trash bags in a roll, with the label printed on the outside bag.2
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'The Glad trash bag solution places the label on the outside bag. Bags are pulled out from the center.3
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'When the customer uses the last bag, the label is gone.4
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'With the Nivea packaging solution, there's no need to open the box and throw it away.5
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'The water-soluble Nivea soap package dissolves in the shower.6
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'The POP container label is printed on the outside of the box in soap-soluble ink.7
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'The consumer is likely to want to wash the new container anyway. With Mickelson's solution, that makes the packaging disappear.8
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'The Disappearing Package doesn't have to be ugly.9
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'PODs are packaged in a roll, with the label printed on the outside.10
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'Individual PODs are perforated together and printed directly with soap-soluble ink.11
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'The customer tears off PODs one-by-one as they are needed.12
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'When the last POD is used, the package is gone.13
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'A food product has more critical packaging needs and presents a special challenge for packaging reduction.14
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'Twinings bags come together on a perforated fanfold and are torn off one-by-one and used.15
Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own 'Disappearing Package'The Twinings solution doesn't eliminate packaging altogether, but does reduce it to a minimum.16
