Results caused by the existence of disposable products: with reference to plastic straws used in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Design is for a better world. The stages in the life cycle of disposable products have caused problems to the world. The designer or the inventor of every product should be responsible for each and every direct or indirect consequences caused by the design. Disposable is a concept, which means those products are only for one-time use. There are few main disposable products; those can be identified as straws, cutlery, cups, lunch packs, bottles and bags. Mark C. Stone has introduced modern straws in 1888, which was made out of paper. Straws can be manufactured out of different types of materials such as Glass, Metal, Bamboo, Pasta, Paper, Plastic, etc. According to the usage and functionality straws can categorized as Wide straws, Spoon straws, sanitary straws, and Miniature straws, etc. The objectives are to make a world free of garbage and waste, to acknowledge people, to protect living beings and nature, to prevent disasters and world crises, encourage and provide suitable design solutions to answer existing and future problems. Every product has direct and indirect ways of affecting to the user, society and the world. Caring about those factors and consequences is necessary towards a better world. Study about Straws is the main research sample and the research is based on grounded theory method. The factual data collected from quantitative research method and survey done with observations focusing on Colombo district. The research findings explore that the current usage of straws, the methods and methodologies for a better product, the effect on the society and how it should be updated to the present as well as to the future social contexts.