BEN TO GO is a reusable Japanese bento box made for takeout using a sustainable material called melamine.
Most bento boxes in the market now are designed to be used at home, so I wanted to explore in what ways I can make the design beneficial for the use of restaurant take out.
I did a form study using paper models, experimenting with the shape and size of the bento box, as well as ways in which I could separate the foods.
Since most bentos include a variety of food such as rice, meat, and vegetables, I needed to think of ways they could be separated.
I wanted to use a material that could either be recycled or biodegradable, while still having strong durability. I wanted to eliminate non biodegradable or non recyclable materials as much as possible, as there is so much waste created from plastic takeout boxes.
The containers are made of a biodegradable material named melamine. It is 50% bamboo and 50% melamine, while having the same durable features as melamine, and is dishwasher safe.
The system diagram shows the life cycle of the bento box.
This is the final prototype of my takeout box. It is a perfect size to carry around and fit in your hands, and since it is designed to be flush on all sides, they can be easily nested and stacked.
The lids for each box will be made of silicone so that users can close the boxes airtight to prevent leaks.
One of the lids includes compartments for utensils that can also be used as a tray to put your utensils on while eating.
And the very top lid has a small slot where the rubber band to hold everything together would go.
