Lean Canvas Design Thinking
Use the Lean Canvas model to clarify your thinking about your defined problem and proposed solutions. See the example below this table for what is
needed for each box. Either printing this onto A3 or complete online but enlarge to add all your thinking here.
Problem
1. Food waste has negative
economic and
environmental impacts.
2. People are buying more
than they need and this
food is being wasted as a
direct result.
3. Further to this, the waste
itself is not being managed
effectively and is
contributing to greenhouse
gas emissions.
Existing alternatives-
1. NSW Government’s Food
Smart program
2. Hello Fresh, Marley
Spoon.
Proposed solution
Part one- Prevention (reduce):
An app (also accessible
through web browsers) which
allows consumers to:
 select from an
extensive and
constantly changing
database of meals
 select portion sizes for
each meal
 automatically generate
a shopping list based
on selection
 deselect items they
already have
 automatically input into
local supermarket
online ordering system
 add additional items
such as toiletries, dog
food, dishwashing
tablets etc.
 pay and collect (or
have delivered)
through existing means
Part two- Management
(recycle):
Council composting trial
10 STEA Innovations Class Lean Canvas Bec McKinney Shenton College
Unique Value Proposition
This app will allow
consumers to save time,
money, energy, and waste
with a one-stop weekly shop
at no additional cost to them.
It will be both easy to use and
access, and will be linked to
all supermarkets that offer an
online ordering function with
pick up or delivery.
 One stop weekly shop
 Reduce waste
 Improve
environmental
outcomes
 Save money
 Save time
 Easy to use
 Easy to access
 Free
The composting trial will
allow users to do their bit for
the environment at no cost
and very little effort to them.
The scheme may also raise
awareness of the amount of
food that is actually being
wasted, and therefore,
contribute to preventative
Unfair/ Advantage Customer segment
The app offers a The target demographic
combination of various is families with children,
existing concepts, with a young consumers, and
focus on convenience for households with incomes
consumers based on higher than $100,00.
their feedback provided
in my research. The convenient and
cost-efficient nature of
The focus of both the prototypes would
solutions is largely on benefit any busy people,
improving outcomes for families on budgets, or
the environment, rather people who want to
than revenue. make a difference to the
environment without too
much effort.
Channels
(Communication)
The app solution will
work best when
advertised through social Early adopters
media, given the
demographic it is aimed Almost 90% of people
at. surveyed voted that they
would use an app like
Advertising at local this. Two percent
grocery stores who offer highlighted that the app
the choose, click and may not be suitable for
collect service will be their demographic (50-60
effective, too. years old), however,
noted that it is 'a good
 3. Sutherland Shire Council’s
War on Waste Compost
Revolution
While these existing solutions
have good intentions and are
effective to an extent, there are
many factors limiting their
effectiveness. The Food Smart
program is tedious and time-
consuming and 100% of people
surveyed had not heard of the
program. Follow up questions also
indicated that the majority of
people interviewed would not use
this program in their household.
The meal kit delivery services are
costly, result in increased plastic
waste, only offer meals for
dinners, and people still need to
grocery shop in addition to this.
The discounts offered by
Sutherland Shire Council on
composting products do not offer
collection of compost matter, and
many people in Sydney do not
have use for the waste given the
size or type of their homes.
Additionally, most people
interviewed would not use a
composting system if it came at a
cost to them.
*Potential costs
App development can cost anywhere between $50,000 to $250,000 The intention is not to raise revenue, rather, to develop a solution that focuses on
which would involve the local
council distributing the
following items to households:
 benchtop compost bin
 biodegradable liners
 large curbside green
bin to be filled with
garden and
appropriate food waste
 instruction pamphlet,
fridge magnet, or
sticker for bin.
The items, following suit of
other successful councils,
would be distributed to all
households in a  selected area
at no cost to residents and the
curbside bin would be
collected weekly.
Key Metrics
(Success Indicators)
Success will be evident
through user feedback from
the app as well as observation
and council curbside waste
collection reports developed
throughout compost trial
period.
Moving forward, success
indicators will include the
community’s attitude toward
increasing rates to continue
the composting scheme.
10 STEA Innovations Class Lean Canvas Bec McKinney Shenton College
measures being adapted
also.
High level concept
Overall, consumers want
their experience to be
convenient, cost effective and
make a difference.
This app allows for both key
preferences, whilst also
offering substantial positive
repercussions for the
environment and relevant UN
development goal.
*Potential revenue streams
The composting trial will
require letters sent out in
the mail, as well as
delivery of necessary
composting items
including big bin, small
bin, biodegradable liners
and ‘best use’ pamphlets
to individual houses in
the Shire.
The composting lids will
need to have a contact
number for customer
support or biodegradable
liner ordering.
idea'.
Almost 90% of people
surveyed (local
community members)
voted that they would
participate in the
composting trial if it were
offered.
Most participants
highlighted that it would
need to be:
• Easy to
access and easy to use
(delivered to their door
by the council with 'how
to use' stickers on the
bin
• Free (funded by
local council)
• Compact (small
bench top bin which can
be emptied into the large
curbside bin)
• Not stinky
(biodegradable liners
provided for kitchen bin
and curbside bin
collected weekly)
• Beneficial to the
environment (all compost
matter is effectively
managed by the council
and used efficiently
rather than rotting in
landfill)
in Australia and substantially more depending on requirements. environmental development sustainability in a means that is accessible and
Would need to approach relevant Government authorities or private convenient for the community.
investors.
There may be opportunity to produce revenue through in-app product advertisement,
Start-up costs for composting trial would include cost of planning, or a once-off joining fee, however, this may deter users so would require in-depth
kerbside bins, kitchen bins, biodegradable liners, instruction consideration and consumer research before actioning.
manual delivery, maintenance, weekly collection, and
management.
Would need to approach relevant council authorities.

10 STEA Innovations Class Lean Canvas Bec McKinney Shenton College