Amaiz

My senior year capstone project comprised everything I learned in my 4 years at IU. I started with the idea of creating a packaging design for a conscious cosmetics company. I spent a semester developing and producing this project while exploring the creation of a new corn husk paper material.

How might we create compostable beauty packaging made of locally sourced material so that we reduce waste in the beauty industry and emphasize eco-friendly products? Corn grows abundantly in Indiana and provides farmers with tons of corn husks, which they don't use because they are considered agricultural waste. Corn husks are made of strong fibers;  once the fibers are broken down, they can be turned into paper. When this paper is layered, it can be sealed together to create a strong cardboard-like form. The packaging is made of 1 part recycled cardboard to 2 parts corn husk, complete by layering and sealed with a natural sealant. Everything the lip balm is made of is 100% natural and, therefore, compostable. Amaiz is a solution to an industry of overconsumption, with a waste-free solution.