Hardware Podcasts

114 - Packaging News Live - Cory and Evelio talk about paper bubble wrap, daylight savings, London design agency

People of Packaging · 16 Mar 2022 · 18m

What this episode covers

Hosts Cory Connors, Evelio Mattos, and Adam Peak discuss emerging sustainable packaging solutions, including paper-based cushioning materials and reusable glass bottle systems. They highlight resources from design agency Butterfly Cannon and supplier directory Guacamole Airplane, while also addressing the technical challenges of recycled glass and the rise of consumer refill stations.

Most relevant to

established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Butterfly Cannon, Guacamole Airplane, Ubuntu, Glass Packaging Institute, TerraCycle, Blaine, Conscious Container

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 31m

    40: Agglomerated Cork

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the production status of their Mark One pen, detailing the transition from prototype to manufacturing with a Chinese factory. They explain the decision to use molded agglomerated cork for sustainable, reusable packaging and the logistical challenge of sourcing cheaper custom-branded Schmidt refills directly from the manufacturer rather than through US distributors. The episode covers specific engineering tweaks, such as testing nickel plating for lubricity and final assembly strategies in Austin.

    Packaging designManufacturing partners & offshoring
    7 chapters

  • How I Built This · 43m

    Making garbage useful with Tom Szaky of TerraCycle

    Tom Szaky, co-founder and CEO of TerraCycle, recounts his journey from a Princeton dorm room to building a multimillion-dollar recycling enterprise. He details the early pivot from selling worm poop fertilizer in reused soda bottles to solving the broader waste crisis by partnering with brands like Stonyfield and Clif Bar to collect non-recyclable packaging. Szaky explains the economics of voluntary funding for waste management and introduces Loop, TerraCycle’s reusable packaging initiative, which aims to make traditional recycling obsolete by enabling infinite reuse of containers from brands like Tide and Häagen-Dazs.

    Starting a product companySourcing & supply chain
    9 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 1h 09m

    100: Embodied Energy

    Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat reflect on the company's history, discussing the pivot from the failed Obi Kickstarter to their current focus on durable tools like the Mark 1 and the newly launched Mark 3 mechanical pencil. They analyze the strategic risks of building hardware dependent on Apple's ecosystem, such as MagSafe docks, and debate the sustainability of reusable mug programs versus single-use packaging. The episode also features a deep dive into the Apple Vision Pro, with Myke Hurley sharing his impressions of spatial computing, pass-through video quality, and the device's potential for content consumption versus productivity.

    Industrial & consumer product designRobotics & autonomy
    8 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 50m

    8: Packaging

    Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss the strategic role of packaging in their direct-to-consumer business, contrasting their minimalist, mail-optimized designs with Apple's high-end retail packaging. They detail specific solutions for products like the Neat Ice Kit and Cosmonaut, explaining how they balance custom printing with off-the-shelf components from suppliers like U-Line to manage costs and assembly labor. The conversation highlights the trade-offs between aesthetic delight and operational efficiency, particularly when dealing with third-party fulfillment centers and shipping constraints.

    Packaging designDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    10 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 48m

    64: Unbridled Consumerism

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the production status of the Mark 2 pocket pen, noting that pre-production samples are nearly perfect with minor tolerance issues on the sleeve assembly, and outline plans for sustainable molded pulp packaging and in-house final assembly. They analyze the new MagSafe Material Docks, debating the magnetic alignment mechanics and the practicality of Peak Design's Moment system, which combines magnetic attachment with physical locking. The hosts also review the iPhone 12 lineup, with Myke Hurley returning his iPhone 12 Mini due to screen size dissatisfaction, while discussing the design trade-offs between aluminum and stainless steel frames and the visual impact of bezel margins.

    Industrial & consumer product designMechanical engineering
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by People of Packaging. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.