Smart Solutions for Sustainability
A service design and customer experience project exploring how emerging technology can help small beverage businesses adopt biodegradable and recycled solutions aligned to SDG 5, 8, and 12.
Passion Project · Service Design · Sustainability
Product Design Lead
MY ROLE
Mar 2025 - Present
TIMELINE
CyberPro Consulting
COMPANY
ROLE
Service Designer
Customer Experience Designer
Product Designer
TOOLS
Sketch
THE PROJECT
Smart Solutions for Sustainability is a service design and customer experience project focused on small businesses in the beverage industry; craft breweries, juice bars, and independent cafés. These businesses are caught between rising consumer demand for sustainability and the practical reality of running a small operation with limited resources. This project explored how emerging technology can make the transition to biodegradable and recycled solutions achievable, not overwhelming.
GOAL
To understand how emerging technology opportunities can help create biodegradable and recycled solutions for small businesses in the beverage industry; driven by environmental awareness, regulatory pressures, consumer demand, and a circular economy shift that aims to minimise waste and conserve resources.
THE CHALLENGE
SDG 8: By adopting sustainable practices and eco-friendly materials, small businesses can enhance environmental performance and competitiveness, attracting environmentally conscious customers and driving innovation in the beverage industry.
SDG 12: By replacing single-use plastics and glasses with biodegradable materials, cups, straws, and packaging. Small businesses can reduce their environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.
SDG 5: Sustainable practices create employment opportunities for women, reduce exposure to harmful chemicals, and promote gender equality creating safer, cleaner working environments.
ROI
Small businesses such as MadGiant can tap into environmental motivation by offering eco-friendly, biodegradable, and recycled solutions, aligning with consumers' values and beliefs. Adopting sustainable practices influences consumer behaviour and encourages individuals to adopt eco-friendly alternatives. Small businesses supporting eco-friendly options can create a new social norm. By offering biodegradable and recycled solutions, small beverage businesses empower consumers with a sense of environmental control and creating motivation to support sustainable practices across the industry.
SDG 5
Gender equality
SDG 8
Economic growth & innovation
SDG 12
Sustainable production
Lobola Legacy Fund
Next: Vitality Group
© 2026 Kgomotso Jolinah Mahlangu