Reduce & Reuse Eco-friendly Packaging

Mar 29, 2008 By Matt 16 Comments

When you buy an LCD or Plasma TV you are also burdened with a menacing mound of non-biodegradable packaging. Some companies packages their wares in biodegradable packaging, but designer Tom Ballhatchet has taken it up a notch and has created a packaging system that won’t have mother nature cringing. Ballhatchet’s design is TV packaging that simply converts to a stylish TV stand with built in cable management. This has mother nature rejoicing because not only does it keep wasteful packaging out of the landfills, it takes the place of another piece of clutter. Plus when you have to move, you don’t need to go get more packaging, simply throw the TV in the stand and you are on the road.

Currently this is still a concept idea but it has been peaking a lot of interest in the consumer electronics world and hopefully will become available soon.

The Mark 1:

The Mark 2:

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Category: Furniture

16 Comments, Comment or Ping

Tomatron

This seems pretty cool. I know i would use it. But would most consumers?

Mar 29th, 2008
iRACK

I’d definitely use it, particularly the Mark 1, super cool. Right now I have a huge box sitting in my attic for my Plasma so I can package it when I move, this save a lot of space.

To make it more appealing to people they could maybe make it an option to choose what color box you want so it would match your decor.

Mar 29th, 2008
TJ

A good idea? When the TV is toast, it and the packaging go into the landfill. Seems to be just delaying the inevitable.

Mar 29th, 2008
Bonnie

I think this is a great idea, but only if the packaging is made from 100% post-consumer waste and is very sturdy and not cheesy or cheap. It should be mandatory for packaging to be completely re-usable or returnable (free) to the manufacturer for recycling.

Mar 29th, 2008
Diane Drinkwater

What a fantastic idea!
This is just what packaging should be! Useful!

Mar 29th, 2008
admin

TJ & Bonnie,

Good points! I love this concept but for it to truly make an impact it would have to be made from recycled material and still be recyclable, which would work nicely with all the e-waste recycling programs out there now. Without that, it is basically delaying the inevitable. In the case of college kids and people who move at least once a year, while both the TV and the box/stand may end up in the landfill, at least there will be one less cheap particle board entertainment center joining them.

Thanks for contributing to the conversation!

Matt

Mar 29th, 2008
Outdoors2

What a brainstorm Idea! Definitely would be of use by my children in their youthful days of college vagabonding and also in the game room.
Wish you all the best in this endeavor.

Mar 29th, 2008
Claudia

i hope electronics companies take this great idea soon! the big amount of packaging that usually comes with TVs is always annoying. i would definitely choose to buy a TV from a company who makes reusable packaging.
it would be great if someone could think of some reusable packaging for other big electronic items as refrigerators.

Mar 29th, 2008
Austin

TJ, it isn’t delaying the inevitable, they would buy a TV stand without it, and that would go into the landfill, so it helps, alot, great idea!

Mar 29th, 2008
Kimberly Edwards

This is a super cool idea, and most inventive!
Creativity with the environment in mind! That’s the way to improve on something!!!

Kimberly Edwards
http://ExoticAnimalLover.com

Mar 31st, 2008
Teresa L McLeod

what a great idea. kudos to the inventive mind

Apr 3rd, 2008
Mike Shumake

yo, this is a great project, but you could make it truly awesome. Make the pieces so that they ‘lock’ together, with the TV locking in place as well, not just stacked on top of each other. Then, stick furniture sliders or short stubby wheels built like rolling pins to the ‘bottom’ of what would be the TV Stand. If you make that alteration, the base would then make the TV moveable, with the umbilical cords all linking to an area on the wall. Now, if your living area is long but not deep, you can turn the television perpendicular to the wall and play the more active games that are popular now -Wii, Playstation Eyetoy games, etc. Send me a check for the idea if you use it. I’m for hire!
-Mike Shumake

Apr 21st, 2008
Tom Ballhatchet

Thanks for the positive, and critical, comments.

Mike Shumake, good ideas (locking, wheels etc.), and exactly what it does do already. Check out my site if you want to see some larger images where this is made more clear.

Tom

Apr 23rd, 2008
tony

I understand. If you are only keeping something out of the landfill for a while won’t it eventually reach the landfill. Why not just make packaging that IS biodegradable?

Apr 23rd, 2008
jasmine celion

thanks fro sharign such cool stuff….i like it

jasmine celion
cool-hotstuff.blogspot.com

May 26th, 2008