INCPEN

A) Who are INCPEN and what do they do?
INCPEN was established in 1974, to carry out research on the environmental and social effects of packaging. The main objectives are to: 

• influence policy on packaging to remove discriminatory measures so that companies can choose the most appropriate packaging and benefit the environment
• promote continuous improvement in packaging systems
• work with interest groups, local and national government and schools to demonstrate that companies take their environmental responsibility seriously and explain the role of packaging in society

They research, run campaigns, packaging policy and education.

The research consists of; Litter composite survey of Scotland; Checking out food waste; packaging and the internet; why products are packaged the way they are; packaging myths; food loss and waste and food packaging; fresher for longer as well as many many other research papers. 

They run two campaigns, one called The Good, The Bad and the Spudly - which is a new consumer facing microite by INCPEN. Looking to help people understand that contrary to popular belief, packaging helps to prevent waste and is positive net benefit to the environment. The other campaign is Fresher for Longer; which INCPEN is working with Wrap, Kent Waste Partnership, The Food and Drink Foundation, the Packaging Federation and the British Retail Consortium to help consumers keep food 'Fresher for Longer'

The packaging policy; The environmental impact of packaging in the UK is controlled by two different pieces of packaging legislation. One covers industry’s role in ensuring that the UK meets recovery and recycling targets, and the other requires producers to ensure that their packaging meets eco-design standards. 

The education; Packaging is a high-tech industry. It uses a wide range of design criteria, manufacturing techniques and materials. Packaging is something that all of us are familiar with.

1. The packaging approach The study of packaging embraces all aspects of design-and-make. This includes market research; design specifications; materials science; manufacturing; transportation; pricing; marketing; environmental studies; legal considerations; human and social considerations.
2. More than Graphics!Whatever area your students are working on, they need to demonstrate how they will package their product from production to consumption. This is vital to ensure that their product is contained, protected, preserved, and marketed.
3. Excellent resources Highly informative resources used by schools for the past 15 years.

B) Are they the same as WRAP? If no then what do you think the key differences are?

No, they are not the same as WRAP because they are more about researching and spreading the word around about sustainability, recycling etc, whereas WRAP is about providing a service to make that easier to the public.

C) Watch this VIDEO

D) After watching the video.

- Where do you stand on packaging in supermarkets? Is it a good thing or otherwise?

I think packaging is an important part of protecting the goods to sell, else if they were all bruised and bettered, people wouldn't want to buy it. 

- Are there ways in which it could be improved? If yes, then how?

Yes, I think that packaging should be used for necessity rather than to make a product look good, so only have what you NEED to protect the item you want to sell, rather than things you want on it to help sell the product.

E) Do you know what you can recycle domestically after you've eaten/ drank all those goods you buy from supermarkets?
Glass bottles, milk bottles, cardboard, anything that says 100% recyclable

- Does your Council or university offer-up recycling options? If yes then what are they? Could they be improved upon at all in some way?
The council provide every household with a green wheelie bin to help recycling in the home. We also have household recycling centres where you can take any house hold good and they will recycle the parts where they can. 
The Worcester University, are participating in the Zero Waste in Universities Project, which means they are pretty much recycling everything they can on campus, and you can easily find ways of recycling them, this includes: > Batteries; Books; Bra’s; Light Bulbs; Cans; Cardboard; Clothes; Textiles; Shoes; Confidential Waste; Electrical and Electronic Equipment; IT and Electronic Waste; Electrical Waste; Floppy disks, CDs and DVDs; Food; Love Food Hate Waste; Furniture; General Waste; Glass bottles and jars; Inkjet and toner cartridge.

F) See'Library'>'Fact sheets, browse through these and pick one that you feel has the most bearing on the project that you’re doing on this module.

- Why do you feel this fact sheet is appropriate for your main project?
I believe that this article, Facts About Packaging is the most appropriate fact sheet for the main project as it talks about the importance of packaging and what it does, and doesn't do. it covers subjects such as Given the lack of recycling facilities for plastic why are so many products packaged in plastic? and Do some goods have insufficient packaging? there are many other questions covered which just helps give you a good overall information about packaging as a hole.

G) Watch this video...video doesn't exist :(

H) After watching the video, do you feel better designed packaging that uses less resources etc is the only way to improve the way we consume goods - especially food?

I think the more we think about what packaging uses less resources the better the outcome, and can only really have a positive impact.