Packaging the Sorapot
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 04. 2.08
We have covered Joey Roth's reinvention of the teapot; its packaging is almost as interesting. He tells us:
"I designed the packaging's shape and chose materials with impermanence in mind. It's made from post-consumer recycled cardboard and molded pulp- exactly the same material as egg crates. Instead of hiding these materials behind a layer of glossy paper (as is often done with retail packaging), I tried to articulate the cardboard's natural beauty as much as possible, using its fluting and imperfections as central design elements. The package is fastened with natural jute rope, and avoids the use of tape and staples. The instructions are printed on a single scroll of recycled paper that comes wrapped around the teapot's glass tube."
Unlike, say an Apple iPod box which is as elegant and finished as the contents, I love the juxtaposition of such a finely finished object with the rough and ready packaging.
Sabine at Mocoloco writes "The combination of post-consumer recycled cardboard and molded pulp is the same material used for egg cartons. Roth focused on the cardboard’s natural imperfections and fluting as an integral part of the design and uses natural jute to fasten the package."
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It seems kind of wasteful to have to heat the water before it even goes into the teapot.
This is absolutely fantastic. As an eco-consumerist ecommerce start up, if I could obtain this type of packaging affordably I'd pack all my pre-owned mercahndise like this.
It also makes a very environmental and tactile statement to the consumer. there's a significant feel good factor too. Environemtal packaging is the way forward.
That looks beautiful.
Very Japanese Zen aesthetic in terms of colour, texture, materials, and its emphasis on natural biogradablilitiy and impermanence of packaging encasing a modern, quasi-scientific instrument like design on the item itself.
I agree with the first post. For $179, it should do more than just look pretty and hold hot water. The mere fact that you can't use it to actually heat up the water reminds me how much more useful the one that I already have is.
Very nice!!
Mike
In other words, now you must own two teapots, not one...sustainable?
Actually America is one of the last places you can find teapots that are designed to be put on the stove.
Typically you get Hot Water Kettle's, which is basically a kettle that plugs directly into the wall. You then would pour the contents of that directly into this. We're currently using a ceramic teapot (not designed for stove use), so this would just be a replacement of that.
Seems a bit steep (I pun, I pun...) at $179, but who said saving the world and having a beautiful teapot would be cheap?
I received the teapot as a gift and loved the box. I thought it would be great to reuse it, (even better than recycle!), but the insert that cradles the teapot is glued in, so that wasn't possilble.