Disposable rucksack

A former Brunel University student, Simon Mitchinson, has developed a disposable rucksack that is strong enough to carry lunches and light goods and yet cheap enough to throw away when it is finished.

The rucksack, which was developed at home by Simon, a 34-year-old Brunel University engineering graduate, won a Gold Medal at the recent British Invention Show held at Alexandra Palace.

Simon, who now lives in Bracknell, first thought of the idea one afternoon while carrying three empty rucksacks that had contained a family picnic around a theme park. A search on the Internet showed that there were no throwaway bags available other than carrier bags - so Simon decided to develop the product himself.

For the past 18 months, under the name of ‘The Paper Rucksack Company’, Simon has been developing these rucksacks, or ‘Piggy Pacs.’ Following the success of initial tests among family and friends, he went on to trial them with schoolchildren going on school trips and to summer camps.