A conversation with Navya Jhunjhunwala

NEWS DESK,NOVEMBER, 2021: A conversation with New York based packaging and graphic designer, Navya Jhunjhunwala  about sustainability and design. She graduated from FIT with a BFA in Packaging Design, and  now she is working as the lead graphic designer for a soon to launch cosmetics brand,  EcoFabulous, under the Amyris umbrella. She also dabbles in various freelance projects with  clients across New York City, and always keeps sustainability in mind when coming up with  innovative packaging design solutions. 

Tell us about your life as a packaging designer and what makes sustainability so  important. 

Being a designer is a lot more that making something look “pretty”. It’s a lot of responsibility  since it influences the way in which the consumer views not only the product but the entire  brand, and sustainability plays a key role in this. 

Sustainability needs to be spoken about at a  larger scheme – of course when each household chooses to make more sustainable decisions  and makes an effort to recycle, reduce water waste etc. that makes a big difference, but we also  need big companies to avoid greenwashing and take tangible steps towards reducing their  plastic consumption. By reducing plastic use in the packaging of products, we can make a  significant difference. 

As a designer myself, I may not always have the ability to change the structure of the product to  be more sustainable, in which case I would try to include on pack information on how to recycle  and try to educate the consumer. 

What is EcoFabulous? 

EcoFabulous is focused on bringing sustainable products to the younger consumer who can’t  necessarily afford expensive beauty products. They want to be sustainable but don’t want to  spend a lot. Being eco friendly shouldn’t be a luxury, it should be a lifestyle that’s accessible to  all. 

We are working on developing a new type of packaging for cosmetic products that uses a  completely biodegradable material. I can’t say much about it since it’s still under testing but I do  think innovations like this from big companies is what’s needed to make a difference. 

There are constantly new innovations in packaging, so how do you stay current? 

A lot of the pages I follow on social media and blogs I read happen to be design related, so I am  constantly learning about new innovations in the design world without making a conscious effort  to do so. Some websites that I like are The Dieline and Dezeen – I often look at their new  articles and that also helps me stay inspired.