New York – A new packaging design claims to save time, space and the environment.
The Universal Packaging System (UPS or UPACKS), created by designer Patrick Sung, consists of flat sheets of recycled corrugated cardboard that fold easily along perforated lines so that any package can be securely and precisely wrapped. The sheets draw inspiration from the ancient art of origami and can be folded to eliminate unused space in traditional shipping boxes, as well as moulding themselves around hard-to-pack objects.
Sung’s design, which is still at the development stage, has received mixed reviews from the international design community. Many praise its eco-appeal and its potential for saving space and transport costs. However, lack of cushioning for fragile items coupled with the inconvenience to the postal industry of retrieving irregularly shaped items have been cited as obstacles to its commercial implementation.