The Bag Question

NEN Awards 2010

November 17, 2010

Last night was the annual Neighborhood Empowerment Network Awards, put on by one of my three 'panel' members. The awards aim to honor and celebrate residents and organizations who put their community first. 

After class I hopped on down to City Hall to enjoy a cheese, wine and mingle reception before the awards ceremony. Because of the green nature of my project, I think it is important to support other community members who try to make this world a safer, cleaner place.

            Of course, I had to include cheesy pictures of myself enjoying the event.

For more information, visit: http://www.empowersf.org/nen-awards-2010

Green Fesitval Bag

A friend kindly bought this bag for me from the Green Festival on Saturday. Thanks Kishanti!

However, after talking to the woman at this booth, I found that this company outsources everything to China. Also, they do not currently carry anything other than cloth and mesh bags. Open market for me to jump into with my handy dandy produce bin? I think so.

SF Green Festival

Green Festival - November 6, 2010

Saturday I joined the masses of my fellow eco-conscious San Franciscans and headed down to the SF Green Festival. I was hoping to see the latest and greatest sustainable products relating to my own product development  and check out my potential target market. 

Initial mayhem, sample combinations that were sure to give you a stomachache, massage, clothes and overly priced delicious food:

Here is a booth dedicated to reusable bags, produce bags and the like:

Produce Bag Gizmos

During my research I have come across a few products relating specifically to plastic produce bags.

Plastic Bag Drying Apparatus:

$15

$14 - $22

Alternatives

Currently for sale at Mollie Stone's.

Survey

Please help with my research project and take this short survey.Click here!

Possible Solutions

So, I've been thinking about ideas surrounding the reduction of plastic bag use in the grocery store.
1. Bag depository: take a bag, leave a bag.
These stations exist, but how how well and where do they work best? This is the current station at Rainbow Grocery:

2. Produce bin that travels with you from home, the store and back to the fridge.

Is plastic the evil garbage maker, or is it simply our unwillingness to recycle?

Puerto Rico Battles Worsening Garbage Problem

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39360272/39345622

Project Timeline

Plastic Island

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/4/9/718328/-Plastic-Island:-Twice-the-Size-of-TexasGrowing

PROBLEM AND PURPOSE STATEMENTS

Problem: The use of plastic produce bags in Mollie Stone’s Tower Market in San
Francisco are wasteful and environmentally unfriendly.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to research and develop a new process in which plastic bags are not necessary.

Currently Related Products

Problem Statement

The use of plastic produce bags in Mollie Stone's Tower Market in San Francisco are wasteful and environmentally unfriendly.

Something About Me:

Hi!
My name is Brooke and I am a senior at San Francisco State University. I am a Product Design major and love working with my hands.
I am most productive when stressed and pressed for deadlines, which works well with meticulous Industrial Design. I chose to major in Product Design because it combines creativity, anal retentiveness, power tools and raw materials.
To de-stress and express myself, I take sculpture classes, walk in the woods or on the beach and play in my garden. There is nothing more satisfying than waking up in the morning and trimming dew soaked plants in the misty morning fog.
I also enjoy DIY home improvement projects, cooking and creating new gluten or dairy free recipes.
I am extremely passionate about the environment and am easily frustrated with people who live frivolously and waste precious resources.

I am mostly influenced by nature and like to pay attention to the natural flow that life tends to take.


Motivated
Earthly
Practical
Cheerful
Efficient
Tree-hugger