Transformative Technologies to reduce waste and environmental impact of packaging within the food industry

Reference number: RLT/LDS/2016/7
Start date: April 2017
Closing date: 31 Jan 2017

Primary supervisor: Dr Rhoda Trimingham
Secondary supervisor: Dr George Torrens

Project Detail:
The proposed PhD study at Loughborough University will provide insights into food distribution in the UK and provide examples of how transformative packaging technology could be used to reduce the impacts of packaging.

Research questions include:
• What are the challenges facing the food supply chain in the UK?
• How can transformative packaging technology help?
• Can the benefits of an application of transformative packaging be demonstrated?
• How may transformative packaging be implemented in a food supply chain and what are the future challenges to be studied?

The study will:
• Review a specific food supply chain in the UK.
• Review available technologies, such as mobile monitoring, Internet of Things, chemistry on a chip and conductive inks, that may be appropriate to answer the challenges highlighted by the review of the food supply chain.
• Review Key strategies/disruptive technologies for packaging and highlight the efficacy of key strategies/disruptive technologies.
• Consider barriers and drivers.
• Test one combination of highlighted need and proposed transforming technology solution, to demonstrate the potential efficacy of its implementation.
• Suggest how the transforming technologies may be applied and future research required.
• A series of conference and journal articles will be produced from this study, drawing on previous experience of packaging and manufacturing and available protocols from elicitation of user requirements.

Find out more:
Dr Trimingham has had a number of successes in the area of sustainable packaging research and enterprise including an EPSRC first grant looking at the carbon footprint of packaging alongside Boots, Pi3 and DCA, and an Innovation Fellowship (EMDA). Dr Torrens has been involved in projects relating to packaging design, such as application of a human-product physical interface model to packaging opening.

There will be an opportunity to liaise directly with key packaging Companies and businesses in the supply chain.
Find out more at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/our-research/school-department/

Entry requirements:

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve:

• A minimum of 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in Design, engineering or a related subject.
• Have an understanding and experience of applying design methods from requirements gathering through real-world research.
• Technical knowledge and skills needed to develop packaging prototypes that could be tested in user trials. Data visualisation and graphic design skills would be an advantage.
• Demonstrate a keen interest in packaging design and sustainability
• A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: packaging technology, research methods, engineering, human factors, social sciences, chemistry, business.

All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/

Contact details:
Name: Dr Rhoda Trimingham, [Email Address Removed], Tel: 01509 222781

How to apply:
All applications should be made online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/. Under programme name, select Loughborough Design School

Please quote reference number: RLT/LDS/2016/7

Closing date for applications: 31st January 2017. Interviews will be held in the first two weeks of February. The proposed start date is 1st April 2017.