Shaping reuse experience for corporate built environments

Overview

Returnr specialises in packaging for shared use, with a broad range of products catering for multitude of food and beverage applications.

Workplace Sets is a solution that helps businesses reduce single-use packaging waste from staff meals. Staff borrow containers from the “pool” for takeaway meals, and after dishwashing clean containers are returned to the station for others to use.

As a Product Designer, I led end-to-end development, including design system creation, technical documentation, client branding and installation support.

Impact

Conversion: 8 out of 10 staff takeaway purchases are now made in Returnr containers.

50% reduction of single-use packaging wastes from staff meals.

The challenge

To redesign the organising station to be space-efficient and  professional-looking, while maintaining the simplicity of organising and managing reusable container assets.

This aims to solve the problem of previous stand designs taking up a lot of kitchen bench space, with many separate parts that are complicated to manage.

The design

The Micropool station provides a simple yet elevated grab-and-go user experience. Its sleek, minimal look fits right into the communal space of any professional environment, seamlessly becoming a part of daily life in the office.

This plywood stand is stable, durable and fitted with cam locks for easy assembly with a screwdriver. Natural finish provides a warm contrast to the stainless steel containers.

The whole stand and signage set is fully flat-packed for cost-saving shipping and ease of handling.

Modularity

Plywood panels have the same footprint with different layouts of container and lid slots. Exchangeable legs allow the stand to be installed freestanding or on the benchtop.

Customers can also choose between a single layer or double layer design, depending on the workplace size and reuse needs.