Special edition: active and intelligent packaging
‘We want more self-destructive and edible packaging!’ Tomorrow Machine
28 year-old designers Hanna Billqvist and Anna Glansén founded Tomorrow Machine in Stockholm to create active and intelligent packaging (AIP) with a focus on sustainability.
How did Tomorrow Machine start?
Hanna and I first met when we were studying product design in the same class in Stockholm. We realized early on we shared the same values and decided to start a company that could fulfil our vision of how sustainable design can be created in a new way. We started Tomorrow Machine just over two years ago.
What do you like most about your job?
The thing we like most about our job is working in a product area where you can really make an environmental difference.
What do you see as the next top packaging trend in five years’ time?
We think that we will see much more intelligent and interactive packaging within five years. But we also believe that we will see less packaging in product areas that are over-packaged like confectionary.
What is the future for active and intelligent packaging?
What we will see in the near future is packaging with displays, indicators and sensors. For example milk cartons that can detect whether the milk has become sour or not. The biggest advantage with this kind of packaging is to prevent unnecessary food waste.
What is the one advancement you would you like to see in food packaging and why?
We would like to see more self-destructive and edible packaging. Of course, we believe in recycling, but we also believe in giving consumers a fun and easy way to be environmentally friendly. And we believe that this type of packaging is a good alternative to classic recycling.
What’s your favourite food packaging product and why?
We often look at how nature itself package foods, for example, fruit or eggs. So if were to choose a favourite package it would probably be the banana peel.