Year
2021
Student
Jana Gutberga
Project
Packaging Waste Reporting: A study of the usability of Grønt Punkt Norge’s packaging waste reporting system, including recommendations on how to enhance its user experience.
Supervisor
Bente Skjelbred
Tagged
Packaging Waste Reporting System, grønt punkt norge, research, solutions, systems oriented design, theory, user experience design
undefined
undefined

Abstract

A key element of Norway’s waste management strategy is the Extended Producer Responsibility policy, leaving producers with both the financial and the physical responsibility for the treatment or disposal of their products. The policy requires producers to participate in an approved return scheme through a Producer Responsibility Organisation that, in return for a membership fee, assists in the reporting, collection and recycling of products or packaging. One of Norway’s Producer responsibility organisations is Grønt Punkt Norge.

In 2007, the Grønt Punkt reporting system was launched to provide producers with an electronic packaging reporting tool. Over the years, the system has grown in complexity, mainly as a result of multiple modifications. This is a major source of frustration and confusion for both internal and external users of the system, and is causing discrepancies in reported waste data.

This study is applying a user-centered design approach to propose recommendations on how to improve the usability of Grønt Punkt’s reporting systems. The aim is to improve user satisfaction and to ensure that the users can utilise the system with minimum effort and knowledge. The study identifies the user challenges associated with the Grønt Punkt reporting system by building upon user insight and analysis.

The study combines selected design methodologies with user insights as a framework to propose a redesign of the reporting system. The outcome is a user-centered reporting system that aims to cater for different user needs and goals, and to improve customer-product attachment.

undefined

Aims and objectives

This study seeks to identify the challenges faced by external and internal users of the Grønt Punkt’s reporting system, with the aim of finding a solution to improve the user experience of packaging waste reporting. Additionally, this study seeks to apply systems thinking to evaluate the proposed solutions and their impact on the stakeholders depending on the efficiency and effectiveness of the Grønt Punkt reporting system.

undefined

Research question

The main research question is as follows: How can user-centered design improve Grønt Punkt’s packaging waste reporting system?

Building on the main research question, this thesis also seeks to address:

  • What is the present state of the reporting system?
  • Who are the different users of this system?
  • What are the different user category needs/goals?
  • What problems exist for internal and external users of the reporting system?