I have noted that there is a growing problem of plastic bottle waste. In addition, students have problems with carrying their essentials to school because available canvas or leather bags are expensive. The product plan will entail a process in which plastic bottles will be collected, washed, broken down, and transformed into the material and used to make tote bags. Further, an insight that has led to this project is that survey carried out revealed that most students would buy sustainability tote bags, which directly confirms desirability. Besides, this design focuses on an area that has never been done before; hence, successful feedback from users will motivate me to proceed with the feasibility of my prototype.
The steps I am taking to solve the problems is my prototype as a feasible solution to reduce and repurpose waste plastic on campus. Since I will be using readily available materials and Monash assets to make tote bags, they will be relatively cheaper, durable, stylish, and of good quality for students to use. It may enable many students to purchase them, and I will have solved their issue of looking for cheap alternative bags to canvas or leather bags. The goal of this project is to provide environmentally friendly products and solutions.
I have noted that the value proposition of this project is tote bags are roomy enough for books and a laptop, although they are easily fashioned as a purse for users. It is important to solve this problem now because of the increasing environmental pollution with plastic waste. The tote bags are positioned to address the worries students have concerning the environment. My next actions are to allow creative students to contribute to this project if it succeeds by designing artwork on the tote bags and researching potential manufacturers.
Project Reflection
The prototype is an innovative idea fronted by Monash University to recycle plastic and design tote bags, which drew the attention of many students. I have noted that the project idea emerged to champion environmental protection in the university and society. The extraordinary artwork designs involve students as they use it to spread information that helps to educate society on issues affecting them. Production costs are relatively cheap because it includes the use of locally available resources such as waste plastics collected in the campus and surrounding environs. I have realized that this project aimed at helping even those students from underprivileged families to have a gainful income as they can work part-time and earn income for themselves.
Further, the idea of making tote bags should entail strategies to create awareness of environmental protection that goes beyond waste plastic collection. There is potential to expand this project and engage others in ways that make a sustainable environment. The artwork printed on the bags disseminates information and message on better ways of conserving our planet to alleviate the effects of climate change. Considerations of this new idea have to center on the entire society and the world through seminars and workshops organized across the nation to educate people on the need to preserve our environment. There is a need for Monash University to be ahead in initiating courses that center on environmental sustainability and train many students on the need to conserve their environment.
However, this idea looks to transform the beliefs and norms people have heard on climate change and environmental sustainability. We can make society learn that students also care about the current state of the deteriorating ecosystem in the country. Tote bags’ success is tested by allowing users to purchase them and use them in their daily lives. After some time of utilization, users were interviewed to give their feedback on tote bags’ durability, portability, ability to carry multiple things, physical appearance, and strength. Further, there could be an increase in tree-planting projects along the highways, university premises, and parks. Having people start to embrace greener products and environmental sustainability initiatives such as planting trees may be a critical test of the idea. Most customers welcomed the idea and were ready to purchase the products. Tote bags create an impressive image of the students expressing their identities and stances. Most students acknowledged that they gave them the power to articulate who they are and do so practically and affordably.
A Personal Reflection
I have learned that students completely embraced the idea of a recycled tote bag prototype at Monash University. This innovative process of turning plastic waste into tote bags was a noble idea to them. The students have discovered that they are the ones to preserve and manage their immediate environment for generations and generations to come. We now see environmental sustainability as our responsibility. It is helpful because it creates gainful employment through recycling and selling tote bags to students and surrounding society members.
I realized we have potential manufacturers ready to contribute to our noble ideas of making tote bags using prototype design. Through insights from consumers and other stakeholders, we are confident that the products may be successful. Tote bag is utilized for multiple uses among students and teachers. Many customers who used the bags have acknowledged their portability, physical appearance, strength, capacity to carry many things, and durability features. Most consumers have noted that it can be used to run daily errands. Hence, we have concluded that it is better to proceed with our proposal of making tote bags and creating awareness of environmental sustainability measures in the community.