This article presents an investigation into the environmental impacts of plastic waste and discusses the importance of cradle-to-cradle design thinking. An example lesson is provided that aims to focus students' attention on the influences of design decisions and conceptualizes design as an iterative process, whereas previous solutions may address some problems but often create others. Through this lesson, students will be taught to consider the entire lifecycle of a product within the process of design and be challenged to create a new kind of bag for carrying groceries that leverages their understanding of biodegradable materials and chemical engineering principles.