Product Service System

My proposed PSS design is a kimchi refiling system which operates at a kimchi house using reuseable Containers.

Kimchi is one of the most beloved foods amongst Koreans, we eat it at every meal. According to my research an average Korean eats up to 80 kilograms of kimchi a year which accounts to a lot of packaging waste as there are many different types of packagings including, plastic bags, plastic jars, foil packs and glass jars.

It is recommended by waste managements in Australia that residue be cleaned before recycling but many residents seldom clean the containers so they are more inclined to not recycle the item and since kimchi packaging leaves lots of residue  especially in the foil and plastic packs lots of the packaging which can be recycled is gone to landfill.

The system will be based in the major hubs of Korean population which include Strathfield, campsie and eastwood.

So how does my system work?, here’s a scenario board that explains the use of the system. in the first step Emily visits the kimchi house and makes a one time purchase for a kimchi jar in which she also gets a free kimchi making session during the weekend.  This Is an incentive for her to participate in the kimchi making session with the elderly

She also purcahses a token to refill her kimchi jar.  Only tokens are useable within the refilling machine which can be bought at the counter, this is to prevent anyone from bringing in their own containers to refill freely.

 She then goes to the refill machine and inserts the coin and gets her serving of kimchi. During the weekends Emily goes to the kimchi house to learn how to make kimchi from the elderly here she can meet new people and socialize with friends. She can then come freely during the weekdays to refill using the machine. The counter has a open view to the back room where the kimchi is prepared which also emphasises the freshness of something which is inside a machine.

The refillable container/ lid and clips will be made out of polypropelyne, with a thermoplastic elastomer seal. The container will contain a 2litre amount of kimchi, which will be enough to last the consumer for the week. The form mimics the traditional Korean pots to form a link of ritual to the younger generations.

The refill station stores a capacity of maximum 20 litres to keep a high turn over so it brings a level of freshness to the consumer. Within the refilling machine there is a portion control mechanism to prevent over spillage and maintain hygiene as the consumer doesn’t need to pour out the kimchi themselves . A button is pushed and the mechanism rotates using a motor.To keep the kimchi fresh a cooling system will be running within the back of the machine, which consists of a compressor heat exchange pipes and refrigerant

So the benefits of the system are it eliminates disposable packaging which means no waste going into landfill. It brings a sense of community as it brings people together, promotes local farmers, it encourages the upkeep of tradition, and the passing on knowledge between generations by actively involving the elderly.