PlasPlus is a product–service system designed to improve the recycling of plastic film waste in Bangkok. Plastic film—commonly used in packaging such as plastic bags and wrappers—is widely consumed but rarely returned to recycling systems due to contamination, sorting difficulty, and lack of clear collection channels. This project investigates the barriers within the current recycling ecosystem and proposes a new system that helps urban consumers correctly sort and return plastic film waste back into the recycling stream.
Year
2025
Category
Application
Tools
Figma
Adobe illustrator
Adobe photoshop
Rhino
What This Project Aims to Solve
Understand the current plastic waste situation and recycling challenges in Bangkok
Identify technical and behavioral barriers in recycling plastic film
Study how Bangkok residents handle plastic film waste after consumption
Explore user behavior and motivations related to waste sorting
Develop design strategies to improve plastic film recycling
Propose a system that reconnects plastic film waste with the recycling process
From Research to System Design
The project followed a research-driven design approach to understand both user behavior and systemic challenges within the recycling ecosystem.
Research methods included literature review, in-depth stakeholder interviews, online questionnaires, focus groups, and co-creation workshops. Insights from these studies were analyzed to identify key user needs, behavioral patterns, and ecosystem constraints.
The findings were synthesized into personas, user journey maps, stakeholder mapping, and system maps to visualize relationships within the recycling system. A morphological chart was then used to explore possible solutions and generate design concepts. Selected concepts were further refined and validated through concept testing and usability testing with potential users and stakeholders, helping identify the most effective design direction.
The Designed Solution
The final outcome is PlasPlus, a product–service system designed to reconnect plastic film waste with the recycling ecosystem through multiple touchpoints.
The system includes:
Mobile Application – helps users identify how to sort plastic waste and locate collection points
Smart Drop Points – dedicated collection stations for plastic film waste
Drying Machine – prepares plastic film waste for recycling by reducing contamination
Partner Badge Kiosk – encourages participation and rewards users within the recycling network
Together, these components create a connected ecosystem that simplifies waste sorting for consumers while improving the efficiency of plastic film recycling in urban environments.
