The report details the findings from the first UK innovation lab event. The aim of this workshop was to facilitate dialogue between stakeholders to obtain a consensus about what the current packaging supply chain looks like for bio-based biodegradable products as well as identify barriers and opportunities, and discuss future possibilities.
The report first introduces the SIMBIO project and the Social Innovation Lab method. Following this an outline of the workshop is given including a summary of the activities. The findings from each of the group activities are then presented. This includes the activities in the consumption, production and waste management workshop breakout groups. The reports presents a diagram of the bioplastic packaging supply chain and three further diagrams that further detail the actors and connections in each of these areas of the supply chain.
Key themes emerging from the workshop are then given. These represent important discussion points raised by the participants. The 5 emerging themes were:
- Standardistions, labelling and its connection to competition and innovation
- Bioplastic material limitation and potential
- Cost and scale of production
- Marketing, consumer knowledge and bioplastic waste management behaviours
- Infrastructure required
The report comes to a close by making a series of recommendations to better connect the supply chain
Reference: Tjahjono, B., Lazell, J., Beltran, M., Bek, D., & Bogush, A. (2021). Seeing the system: Findings
from the first SIMBIO workshop, 4th of March 2021. In. Coventry: Coventry University,
Centre for Business in Society (CBiS).