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Home > Courses > S23 3298 | Sustainable Design (Pilot) > Gavin McDaniel

Hemp Fiber Pizza Box

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S23 3298 | Sustainable Design (Pilot)

Min Kang

Gavin McDaniel

Pizza may be one of the world’s favorite comfort foods — but its packaging is anything but comforting for the planet. The Box of Pizza project explores how a simple cardboard box, used for just a few hours, can carry complex environmental consequences.

Mapping the System, Finding the Gaps

A Whole System Map was created to capture the full journey of a pizza and its packaging. From tomato farms and dairy production to retail delivery and landfill waste, every material and process was connected.

Measuring the Footprint

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) measured environmental impacts across the product’s stages — from dough to disposal.

The findings highlighted key environmental impacts: dairy and meat processing consumed high water and energy, cardboard production drove deforestation and CO₂ emissions, and transport and ovens increased fossil fuel use. These insights led to cleaner materials, less printing, and more efficient delivery

Persuasive Design

The behavioral design component focused on motivating both consumers and retailers to make sustainable choices.

Greener Materials, Smarter Design

To reduce material impact, the project explored bioplastic alternatives to PET, focusing on Polyethylene Furanoate (PEF) for its strength and lower footprint. Recycled paper pulps and natural inks were also considered, supporting a move toward compostable, cradle-to-cradle packaging.

Final Solution

The “Sustainable Design for Food Containers” project demonstrates how rethinking packaging systems can drive meaningful environmental change. Through systems mapping, material innovation, and behavior-based design, it shows that sustainability is not about adding complexity — it’s about removing waste and restoring balance to the everyday products we rely on.