Sustainable design of packaging for the betterment of the lives of disadvantaged peoples

The current life cycle of a product which provide packaging for consumable items either end as discarded or recycled refuse. Recycling for the most part involves the processing of refuse materials back into raw materials. The homeless or those living below the poverty line receive little to no benefit from this process. This research aims to provoke thinking into packaging design that can be used for the betterment of poorer societies. This study adapts the Function Analysis System Technique (FAST method) to fit two different functional outcomes of the same product. The product having a use for the consumer that would take on a second fundamental use for homeless or impoverished people without the need for complex repurposing. Presented in this paper is an adapted method used for the creation and refinement of a product that once it reaches the end of its life cycle can be repurposed into durable footwear rather than contributing to waste or being recycled.