MARIBEL MORALES

In choosing my career, I combined my passion for sustainability and my interest in packaging to have an ultimate end goal of creating new and innovative ways for sustainable packaging. During my time at Cal Poly, I have learned that sustainable packaging does not exist because there are no standard regulations to hold companies accountable for their sustainable packaging claim. I have made it my personal mission to define sustainable packaging for the entire industry, and make companies accountable for their business decisions. My career goal it to challenge the traditional ways of packaging and introduce sustainable innovations that can be applied to many, if not all, packaging sectors. I understand that this is a big dream of mine, but I am optimistic for change in the world. I feel confident that I can make this difference within my felid. I am currently taking steps towards this path though my involvement in clubs.

• Planning all logistics for Packaging Symposium and corresponding banquet to raising money for Cal Poly’s Packaging Program
• Organizing a local reception for packaging students and industry professionals to better introduce each other in a causal setting
• Finding, coordinating, and communicating with 8-10 guest speakers
• Creating a positive and organized environment between guest speakers and packaging students in order to optimize career potential for Cal Poly’s Packaging Program

• Logistically planning an Egg Drop event so students can use packaging knowledge to create a successful package for an egg that will be drop tested
• Finding and emailing sponsors that will provide funding for the event
• Organizing and tracking students whom are participating
• Setting up and cleaning up at the event

• Working with 1 business professional per quarter to achieve a more sustainable business
• Researching and envisioning sustainable practices with each client in a 10 week duration
• Specifically working with clients whom which to have more environmentally friendly packaging
• Researching better means of packaging that fits the client's company model

• Educating students about the importance of sustainable business as an agent for change for our environment
• Organizing 2-3 socials per quarter and 2 volunteering events for over 30 club members
• Facilitate an open environment to discuss pressing social justice and environmental issues

• Strengthening our passion to leave the world a better place by working in interdisciplinary teams that value sustainability
• Innovating a difference in our environment by challenging ways to reinvent industries for a post-COVID world
• Creating a mockup system to allow consumers an easier way to dispose of single use waste packaging

• Actively used solution solving skill by redesigning a package within 48 hours
• Reduced the material used within a traditional 12 pack of Coca-Cola
• Increased branding area for display
• Created a more ergonomic way of carry
• Collaborated with two other packaging engineers to create the packaging, graphics, and video marketing

• Collected over 100 sustainable packaging case studies between January 2000 and July 2021.
• Identified sustainable packaging claims in industry case studies and match case studies with standard sustainable design principles
• Quantified research to determine sustainable packaging trends within the industry