1. Does the project require IRB approvals?

No, our project will develop a prototype using lab work with no need for data from human subjects. A possible situation where we would need IRB approval would be if we wanted to conduct surveys to gauge interest or get other feedback for our product in the Philippines. These surveys would most likely be occurring at a later stage in the project. However, they are more likely to be minimal risk research and we can try to apply for expedited or exempt approval.

2. Based on your life experience, skills and interests, what would a design process that is both uniquely yours and effective look like? 

1. Define the problem
2. Research what biowaste we want to use /l earn more about the problem
3. Brainstorming a solution
4. Develop and test prototype
5. Implement the prototype in country
6. Get feedback from fieldwork in country
7. Reevaluate / make modifications if necessary

3. Identify your three most important stakeholders and list five UNIQUE attributes for each one of them.

Primary stakeholder: plastic packaging manufacturers

1. Probably a company
2. Cares about the cost of the bio-pellets 
3. Will have access to factories/more resources than individual people
4. Will need to use bioplastic pellets in bulk
5. Need to cooperate with farmers on transporting the agricultural waste

A secondary stakeholder: store owners using plastic containers

1. Cares about cost of packaging 
2. Cares about how using eco-friendly packaging will reflect on their reputation and advertisement
3. May need to buy packaging in bulk, depending on how big the business is
4. Business owners, likely more economically stable
5. Wants to provide to the community easily and efficiently and changing up the packaging may have an effect on customers

A tertiary stakeholder: farmers

1. May want to keep their agricultural waste for various reasons, such as using it as fertilizer
2. Would care about profit from selling agricultural waste
3. From more rural areas
4. Do not care as much about what the waste is turned into after they sell it to us
5. May be more difficult to form partnerships with without a translator or other cultural link

Other stakeholder: individual people using plastic containers

1. Likely not buying directly from manufacturers
2. Need to know how to dispose of the bioplastic product
3. Many who use plastic packaging don’t typically give a second thought on using them
4. Cares how durable the bioplastic is (they do not want it to start to decompose while they are still using it) 
5. May not have as much information on the process of creating the plastics

4. Identify three ways in which you will validate your project concept, technology, usability, and business model.

Project concept validation: 

• We can survey our target demographics to understand whether they are willing to accept/use our product.
• Does our project solve a relevant problem? Whether we make an impact or not is vital for our project.
• Do the right people understand our project concept? If our stakeholders, manufacturers, or other people we team up with believe in our project then there is a good chance our project concept is on the right track.

Project technology validation: 

• Do we have reliable supply chains to provide us with materials for our project, most importantly a steady supply of agricultural waste.
• Do we know how to make our bioplastic containers or bioplastic pellets? If we have no clue how to make our product later in its development then we are behind.
• Is there a cheaper way to create our product? Plastic containers are already cheap and reliable, so we need a competitive price to convince people to switch from regular plastic to bioplastic. 

Project usability validation: 

• How easy is it to manufacture and obtain our product? If it is too difficult then people will stick with ordinary plastics.
• How does our bioplastic compare with plastic containers on the market currently?
• Is our product going to be easily accessible to those who seek it out?

Project business model validation: 

• Does our project solve a relevant issue and how will it go about that.
• Is our business sustainable and scalable?
• What are the advantages compared to other products on the market?