Social packaging. Design for wide sustainability

The contribution intends to present a research experience developed by three players in academic, commercial and social fields who, working in collaboration, have created the conditions to produce new packaging systems for recovered and regenerated household appliances, in order to reintroduce them into the market. The action is carried out within the Ri-Generation project, activated by Astelav and Sermig (Turin, Italy), aimed at recovering a large number of abandoned appliances in order to prevent the formation of waste in landfills, offer a new life cycle and new value to used products, foster new economies and create job opportunities involving marginalised people in the regeneration operations. The spirit of the Ri-Generation project is maintained in the conception of the packaging, which is produced by transforming and assembling abandoned clothes recovered daily by Sermig. The resulting soft mat can be easily used to wrap the recovered washing machine and protect it during transport to the buyers’ home.