Mono-Material Watch Packaging
A research concept for a Swiss luxury watch maison.
Challenge
Luxury packaging mixes plastics, foams, textiles, magnets. It looks refined, but creates incompatible waste streams. Multi-material assemblies are harder to sort and recycle, often ending in incineration (Packaging World; Canada Plastics Pact).
At the same time, “sustainability” is often reduced to thinner boxes, while logistics and supply chains remain unchanged.
Approach
A fully mono-material system made from polyethylene: box, lid, hinge, cushion, internal supports, all within one polymer family.
The goal is simple, remove material conflicts while preserving luxury cues through texture, precision, and assembly. Polyethylene allows durability and consistent recycling streams, where systems exist (Smart Packaging Hub).
Why it matters
Reducing material is not always the main lever. Transport and supply chains can outweigh packaging mass (CEflex; Circular Analytics).
In Switzerland, packaging is often produced abroad, imported for filling, then exported again. Avoidable logistics, not just materials, drive impact.
Mono-material design shifts the question from “less” to “simpler”.
Notes
Concept study. Recycling depends on local infrastructure. Environmental impact varies by context.