Sustainability Overview References - info can be found in a earlier blog
[http://pdsustainability.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-03-25T10%3A11%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7]
o What is a carbon footprint?
http://timeforchange.org/what-is-a-carbon-footprint-definition
o Explain the 3 key pillars of sustainable design/development.
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/About-Design/Business-Essentials/International-markets-by-Mark-Delaney/
o What is meant by Eco-efficiency?
Conceptual Framework Working Group of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. (2003). "Ecosystems and Human Well-being."
London: Island Press.
Chapter 5. "Dealing with Scale". pp. 107–124. I
SBN 155634030
o Find and explain two good examples of sustainable design.
Examples of sustainable design…
ModCell®
http://www.modcell.co.uk/ London 2012 Olympic Legacy
2012 Olympics
http://www.london2012.com/making-it-happen/sustainability/index.php
Tuesday 1 June 2010
Thursday 27 May 2010
Falkirk wheel is a good example as there is very little energy needed to turn it. Most of the movement comes from the weight of the top water tank being heavier than the bottom one. This pushes the wheel down.
Irn Bru glass bottles are another good example as they give the buyer the incentive to return the bottle to get 20p back. The bottles are then recycled, refilled and redistributed. If everyone did this no bottles would be needed again.
Irn Bru glass bottles are another good example as they give the buyer the incentive to return the bottle to get 20p back. The bottles are then recycled, refilled and redistributed. If everyone did this no bottles would be needed again.
Wednesday 12 May 2010
Thursday 6 May 2010
Sustainable Future
This is a quote from a book i was reading the other day.
" To create sustainable future, we must revamp the systems that support our lives. The challenge is twofold; to retrofit existing systems to make them as sustainable as possible and to build new systems using the principles of sustainable design."
Environmental Science - Creating a sustainable future page 49.
" To create sustainable future, we must revamp the systems that support our lives. The challenge is twofold; to retrofit existing systems to make them as sustainable as possible and to build new systems using the principles of sustainable design."
Environmental Science - Creating a sustainable future page 49.
Friday 30 April 2010
Thursday 29 April 2010
Issues I think must be considered in the future
I don’t think that the excessive nature of the consumption we rich western countries have can go on without dire consequences for us and the rest of the world. Things we take for granted now like plastics and oil may one day be out of supply and we will need a way of coping without them. It is our job as designers to come up with ideas and concepts to try and develop a sustainable solution, and a sustainable out come that future generations will see the benefits in.
Now I would like to refer to something I said earlier on the blog as a kind of means to create debate, in that what if as consumers, we could expect things to be biodegradable rather than a novelty. There are some very good examples out there of good and very smart use of materials and techniques in design, but these are at the moment expensive and have a novelty aspect to them that people may not want in their own homes. Maybe more time should be spent in making familiar objects environmentally friendly. I am suggesting that eco friendly should be a bit more socialised and keep in mind the average user.
Another thing that should be done for the good of the world at the expense of business would be to make products out of high quality components, reducing the need for lots of replacements. This would perhaps mean that new phones, MP3 players, Televisions etc will be in less demand and the technology (HD for example) people have in their homes would advance slower. Also to do this the consumer would need to have a level of moderation, HD or Blu Ray are just steps up from digital and DVD- which do the job people expect of them. This however would kill off big manufacturers, and because of this it is unlikely to happen.
I don’t think that the excessive nature of the consumption we rich western countries have can go on without dire consequences for us and the rest of the world. Things we take for granted now like plastics and oil may one day be out of supply and we will need a way of coping without them. It is our job as designers to come up with ideas and concepts to try and develop a sustainable solution, and a sustainable out come that future generations will see the benefits in.
Now I would like to refer to something I said earlier on the blog as a kind of means to create debate, in that what if as consumers, we could expect things to be biodegradable rather than a novelty. There are some very good examples out there of good and very smart use of materials and techniques in design, but these are at the moment expensive and have a novelty aspect to them that people may not want in their own homes. Maybe more time should be spent in making familiar objects environmentally friendly. I am suggesting that eco friendly should be a bit more socialised and keep in mind the average user.
Another thing that should be done for the good of the world at the expense of business would be to make products out of high quality components, reducing the need for lots of replacements. This would perhaps mean that new phones, MP3 players, Televisions etc will be in less demand and the technology (HD for example) people have in their homes would advance slower. Also to do this the consumer would need to have a level of moderation, HD or Blu Ray are just steps up from digital and DVD- which do the job people expect of them. This however would kill off big manufacturers, and because of this it is unlikely to happen.
What is eco efficiency?
The term 'eco-efficiency' was coined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in its 1992 publication 'Changing Course'. It is based on the concept of creating more goods and services while using fewer resources and creating less waste and pollution.
The WBCSD is a coalition of 150 companies worldwide that are united by a commitment to the principles of economic growth and sustainable development. Members are drawn from 30 countries and from 20 major industrial sectors, and include Nestlé, Royal Philips Electronics, AT&T, Kodak, 3M, Sony and Toyota.
Through the WBCSD, member companies exchange their experiences in implementing eco-efficiency and share their ideas with the business community worldwide.
The 1992 Earth Summit endorsed eco-efficiency as a means for companies to implement Agenda 21 in the private sector, and the term has become synonymous with a management philosophy geared towards sustainability.
According to the WBCSD definition, eco-efficiency is achieved through the delivery of ' ...competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life while progressively reducing environmental impacts of goods and resource intensity throughout the entire life-cycle to a level at least in line with the Earth's estimated carrying capacity'.
This concept describes a vision for the production of economically valuable goods and services while reducing the ecological impacts of production. In other words eco-efficiency means producing more with less.
According to the WBCSD, critical aspects of eco-efficiency are:
A reduction in the material intensity of goods or services;
A reduction in the energy intensity of goods or services;
Reduced dispersion of toxic materials;
Improved recyclability;
Maximum use of renewable resources;
Greater durability of products;
Increased service intensity of goods and services.
The reduction in ecological impacts translates into an increase in resource productivity, which in turn can create competitive advantage.
Recently, the WBCSD has taken steps to extend its work on eco-efficiency to specific sectors. Currently there are special projects within the cement, electric utilities, forestry, mining and mobility sectors. In 2001, 11 companies from six countries embarked on a project addressing sustainability issues in the electric utilities sector.
In addition to the sectoral work, there are also several WBCSD projects on policy development and best practice, such as the European Eco-Efficiency Initiative.
Eco-efficiency is part of a broader concept called 'sustainable production and consumption' (SPC). This concept involves changes in production and consumption patterns that lead to sustainable use of natural resources. Businesses play a key role, both as consumers of raw materials and as producers of goods and services.
A project is under way in Canada to develop a set of indicators for eco-efficiency. The project, conceived by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, began by developing a set of core indicators for energy, water and material 'intensity'. In 2000, it was extended to 12 Canadian companies from a range of manufacturing sectors. The project has since been expanded again, to cover 60 to 80 Canadian companies.
According to David McGuinty, president of NRTEE, the results 'demonstrate that eco-efficiency indicators can contribute in practical ways to improving the overall sustainability of key corporate sectors'.
From http://www.bsdglobal.com/tools/bt_eco_eff.asp
The term 'eco-efficiency' was coined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in its 1992 publication 'Changing Course'. It is based on the concept of creating more goods and services while using fewer resources and creating less waste and pollution.
The WBCSD is a coalition of 150 companies worldwide that are united by a commitment to the principles of economic growth and sustainable development. Members are drawn from 30 countries and from 20 major industrial sectors, and include Nestlé, Royal Philips Electronics, AT&T, Kodak, 3M, Sony and Toyota.
Through the WBCSD, member companies exchange their experiences in implementing eco-efficiency and share their ideas with the business community worldwide.
The 1992 Earth Summit endorsed eco-efficiency as a means for companies to implement Agenda 21 in the private sector, and the term has become synonymous with a management philosophy geared towards sustainability.
According to the WBCSD definition, eco-efficiency is achieved through the delivery of ' ...competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life while progressively reducing environmental impacts of goods and resource intensity throughout the entire life-cycle to a level at least in line with the Earth's estimated carrying capacity'.
This concept describes a vision for the production of economically valuable goods and services while reducing the ecological impacts of production. In other words eco-efficiency means producing more with less.
According to the WBCSD, critical aspects of eco-efficiency are:
A reduction in the material intensity of goods or services;
A reduction in the energy intensity of goods or services;
Reduced dispersion of toxic materials;
Improved recyclability;
Maximum use of renewable resources;
Greater durability of products;
Increased service intensity of goods and services.
The reduction in ecological impacts translates into an increase in resource productivity, which in turn can create competitive advantage.
Recently, the WBCSD has taken steps to extend its work on eco-efficiency to specific sectors. Currently there are special projects within the cement, electric utilities, forestry, mining and mobility sectors. In 2001, 11 companies from six countries embarked on a project addressing sustainability issues in the electric utilities sector.
In addition to the sectoral work, there are also several WBCSD projects on policy development and best practice, such as the European Eco-Efficiency Initiative.
Eco-efficiency is part of a broader concept called 'sustainable production and consumption' (SPC). This concept involves changes in production and consumption patterns that lead to sustainable use of natural resources. Businesses play a key role, both as consumers of raw materials and as producers of goods and services.
A project is under way in Canada to develop a set of indicators for eco-efficiency. The project, conceived by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, began by developing a set of core indicators for energy, water and material 'intensity'. In 2000, it was extended to 12 Canadian companies from a range of manufacturing sectors. The project has since been expanded again, to cover 60 to 80 Canadian companies.
According to David McGuinty, president of NRTEE, the results 'demonstrate that eco-efficiency indicators can contribute in practical ways to improving the overall sustainability of key corporate sectors'.
From http://www.bsdglobal.com/tools/bt_eco_eff.asp
Explain the three pillars of sustainable design/development
People
When talking about people it refers to the user, the manufacturer and the people involved at the primary farming level of the products life cycle. The product may change the way a user thinks about how a product is made and it may also inspire thought on how people consider what they buy.
Planet
The effect the product has on the planet as a whole. This takes into account the pollution farming the raw materials, the amount of distance it travels, the method of manufacture, how much power it uses, and the waste it creates. Factors worth considering are what happens when the product is finished with and how far it needs to travel.
Profit
The amount of money the product takes to produce must be covered in the sale of the product. It is impossible to justify investing in a product when it will be at a loss. It is possible to be a non profit making company, but the books still need to be balanced. Profits made can be re-invested in the company to help with expansion.
Taken from the INDECO Pdf file used on the previous question
People
When talking about people it refers to the user, the manufacturer and the people involved at the primary farming level of the products life cycle. The product may change the way a user thinks about how a product is made and it may also inspire thought on how people consider what they buy.
Planet
The effect the product has on the planet as a whole. This takes into account the pollution farming the raw materials, the amount of distance it travels, the method of manufacture, how much power it uses, and the waste it creates. Factors worth considering are what happens when the product is finished with and how far it needs to travel.
Profit
The amount of money the product takes to produce must be covered in the sale of the product. It is impossible to justify investing in a product when it will be at a loss. It is possible to be a non profit making company, but the books still need to be balanced. Profits made can be re-invested in the company to help with expansion.
Taken from the INDECO Pdf file used on the previous question
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is defined as:
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
In other words: When you drive a car, the engine burns fuel which creates a certain amount of CO2, depending on its fuel consumption and the driving distance. (CO2 is the chemical symbol for carbon dioxide). When you heat your house with oil, gas or coal, then you also generate CO2. Even if you heat your house with electricity, the generation of the electrical power may also have emitted a certain amount of CO2. When you buy food and goods, the production of the food and goods also emitted some quantities of CO2.
This is from Time for change.com
Act on co2 is good for doing a test on your carbon footprint.
A carbon footprint is defined as:
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
In other words: When you drive a car, the engine burns fuel which creates a certain amount of CO2, depending on its fuel consumption and the driving distance. (CO2 is the chemical symbol for carbon dioxide). When you heat your house with oil, gas or coal, then you also generate CO2. Even if you heat your house with electricity, the generation of the electrical power may also have emitted a certain amount of CO2. When you buy food and goods, the production of the food and goods also emitted some quantities of CO2.
This is from Time for change.com
Act on co2 is good for doing a test on your carbon footprint.
What is meant by Design For sustainability?
Design for sustainability refers to the process of designing goods and services that takes into account all the dimensions of sustainable development and particularly environment, economic and social factors.
I feel this is a good explanation as it refers to the three Ps of sustainable design.
http://indeco.com/Files.nsf/Lookup/dfs/$file/Dfs.pdf
Design for sustainability refers to the process of designing goods and services that takes into account all the dimensions of sustainable development and particularly environment, economic and social factors.
I feel this is a good explanation as it refers to the three Ps of sustainable design.
http://indeco.com/Files.nsf/Lookup/dfs/$file/Dfs.pdf
Wednesday 28 April 2010
Friday 23 April 2010
Design for sustainability
“Design that considers the environmental (for example resource use, end of life impact) and social impact of a product (for example usability, responsible use)”
Design for Sustainability, a Practical Approach Bhamra, Tracy
For designing something, you need to take a practical approach on it. This is basically the life span of how a product is made, from the brief hand out, to being recycled.
Design for Sustainability, a Practical Approach Bhamra, Tracy
For designing something, you need to take a practical approach on it. This is basically the life span of how a product is made, from the brief hand out, to being recycled.
Why should designers give a damn
Designers should give a damn because it is getting to an era where design approaches that dont take into consideration the life cycle simply wont succeed. The Government are clamping down more and more on recycling and its going to become harder for designers to answer why their products arn't environmentally friendly, when there is more available recycled materials than ever before.
What are the issues that a Product Designer will have to consider when designing products in the future? How do you think this can this be achieved?
Well, the most important issues to me would have to be trying to use as little fuel as possible to reduce the carbon monoxide, and trying to make a product as eco friendly as possible – meaning trying to create a product which you can reuse over and over again.
These aren’t easy to achieve but yeah they’re possible. I think it’s really something I personally couldn’t do; it would really need to be the government. I could hopefully make a few products here and there which will help the environment, but the government really need to get a big push on all this, by reducing the co2 additions.
These aren’t easy to achieve but yeah they’re possible. I think it’s really something I personally couldn’t do; it would really need to be the government. I could hopefully make a few products here and there which will help the environment, but the government really need to get a big push on all this, by reducing the co2 additions.
Explain the 3 key pillars of sustainable design/development.
People, Planet and Profit are the aspects to create a successful design, when designing a product the designer has to think of those 3 things.
People – social – will they be able to actually afford it, will the design fit the surrounding areas. Could if affect the likes of the education or maybe lead to some sort of freedom
Planet – environment – trying to protect the world from dangerous gases which will soon enough cause the ice caps to melt, I mean since the earth has risen in temperature by 1 degree in the past 100 years, it’s likely to happen one day.
Profit – economic – pretty much the amount of money the company can produce from the product,
http://www1.indstate.edu/facilities/sustainability/images/WebImages/20070207-threees.jpg
What is meant by the term "Sustainability"
What is meant by the term "Sustainability"
Sustainability
When considering the term sustainability the latest 3D Blockbuster film “Avatar” popped into my head. There is a scene where the female protagonist is explaining to male protagonist Jake Sully about how the Avatar indigenous approaches their impact on the environment. She explains that “All energy is borrowed and one day you have to give it back,” This scene shows the indigenous burying one of their dead under a fallen tree as if to replenish its growth and fill the void created by the uprooted fauna.
For me this portrays part of my idea of Sustainability. The fact that everything we use or take from the world has to be given back to its donor in order to maintain a balance. This raises my curiosity as to how fictional the film and its underlying messages really are. Is there an elememt of education under the entratainment? Obviously not all products or materials can be processed or returned to their original state. Sometimes this is not financially feasible or practical however this example has a good message behind it for an approach to sustainability.
The issue that the things we do now will affect all those in the future is another part of the term of sustainability which stands out to me. I remember going to the cinema to watch the film “An inconvenient truth” by Al Gore. The impact this film made on me was amazing due to the images and statistics used. Not only does it frighten me slightly it also makes me feel partially ashamed from the damage already caused by human existence. It explains the extent of global warming and how it will affect us in the future. The issue that we are slowly destroying our own planet is a heavy burden shared by all especially with problem solvers such as designers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxi-OlkmxZ4
YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS. IF YOU ARE A DESIGNER A POSTMAN OR A PRIME MINISTER IT DOESNT MATTER.
Why should designers give a damn?
Why should designers give a damn?
I found this question to be a conclusion to the project. So to sum up; this is why designers should give a damn:
To conclude the simplest reason to give a damn is that the worlds resources won’t last forever and “ the survivor of the fittest is the one that can adapt.”
I found this question to be a conclusion to the project. So to sum up; this is why designers should give a damn:
- By trying to find new ways to help the earth we will be showing the future generation and helping them out.
- As Albert Einstein says “ The world we have is the product of our way of thinking.”
- With our influence we the public ,not just designers, can help the earth by doing our own bit by bit. Even if this means recycling cans or reusing that plastic bag that sits in the cupboard. A new trend which has started is people use the infamous Little Brown Bag for their lunch or the more patriot Glasgow bag. This is a positive start becasue we are starting small and gradually making our way to the bigger hurdles.
To conclude the simplest reason to give a damn is that the worlds resources won’t last forever and “ the survivor of the fittest is the one that can adapt.”
Why should designers give a damn ?
Designers should care as they can have their own input and show how they feel towards the situation. Designers can help make change by watching what materials they use etc… This can influence other people to sit up and realise what’s happening in the world.
What are the issues that a Product Designer will have to consider when designing products in the future? How do you think this can this be achieved?
One of the issues that Product Designers face is the lack of natural resources.
The plastic industry is directly dependent on oil resources. The more plastic we use now, the fastest the oil resources will deplete and so on the less plastic products we will be able to produce. Steel and other metals also come from fossil resources extraction and the same future problems will occur. Concerning the natural resources like wood, some more policies (like i.e.: FSC and PEFC ecolabels) of careful management have to be developed in order to ensure their reliability in medium to long term.
It is to consider that some natural resources can have a worst environmental impact regarding some indicators, i.e.: the cotton needs lots of water to grow and fertilizers and pesticides are used during its culture (for intensive culture), comparing to Polyester (nylon). But these considerations are valuable if we take into account for example the impact on ecosystems; for the climate change or waste disposal impact, the use of cotton is less impacting than PE use.
How soon can manufacturers switch to other raw materials? What are the raw materials of the future? Are natural gas and biomass viable alternatives today? Or is coal about to make a comeback?
The plastic industry is directly dependent on oil resources. The more plastic we use now, the fastest the oil resources will deplete and so on the less plastic products we will be able to produce. Steel and other metals also come from fossil resources extraction and the same future problems will occur. Concerning the natural resources like wood, some more policies (like i.e.: FSC and PEFC ecolabels) of careful management have to be developed in order to ensure their reliability in medium to long term.
It is to consider that some natural resources can have a worst environmental impact regarding some indicators, i.e.: the cotton needs lots of water to grow and fertilizers and pesticides are used during its culture (for intensive culture), comparing to Polyester (nylon). But these considerations are valuable if we take into account for example the impact on ecosystems; for the climate change or waste disposal impact, the use of cotton is less impacting than PE use.
How soon can manufacturers switch to other raw materials? What are the raw materials of the future? Are natural gas and biomass viable alternatives today? Or is coal about to make a comeback?
What is meant by Eco-efficiency ?
The term eco-efficiency was coined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in its 1992 publication "Changing Course". It is based on the concept of creating more goods and services while using fewer resources and creating less waste and pollution. Some changes it has made
Interface, one of the world’s largest producers of commercial floor covering, saved over $200 million from 1996 to 2002 through its sustainability efforts.
HP in California reduced its waste by 95% and saved $870,564 in 1998.
STMicroelectronics, a Swiss-based technology manufacturer, saved £38 million in energy and $8 million in water costs, with a total saving over a decade predicted at $900 million.
Dupont reduced energy use by one-third at one facility saving over $17 million per year on power while reducing greenhouse gas pollution per pound of product by half. In 2000, it saved almost $400 million due to resource and productivity improvement.
In five years, SC Johnson increased production by 50% while waste emissions were cut by half, resulting in annual cost savings of more than $125 million.
United Technologies Corporation’s sites eliminated almost 40,000 gallons per year of waste water and saved over US$50,000 per year with a fundamental change in the way it manages its test cells, underground storage tanks and waste streams.
Interface, one of the world’s largest producers of commercial floor covering, saved over $200 million from 1996 to 2002 through its sustainability efforts.
HP in California reduced its waste by 95% and saved $870,564 in 1998.
STMicroelectronics, a Swiss-based technology manufacturer, saved £38 million in energy and $8 million in water costs, with a total saving over a decade predicted at $900 million.
Dupont reduced energy use by one-third at one facility saving over $17 million per year on power while reducing greenhouse gas pollution per pound of product by half. In 2000, it saved almost $400 million due to resource and productivity improvement.
In five years, SC Johnson increased production by 50% while waste emissions were cut by half, resulting in annual cost savings of more than $125 million.
United Technologies Corporation’s sites eliminated almost 40,000 gallons per year of waste water and saved over US$50,000 per year with a fundamental change in the way it manages its test cells, underground storage tanks and waste streams.
what will I have to consider when designing products in the future
in the near future and as we can see today there is a strong awareness of environmental impact of products and companies are using environmental approaches to market their products, a good example is the innocent smoothie company. The Government also use this as an extra way of recieving tax, for example cars with higher exhaust emissions are given much higher tax prices, they are doing the same as what they do to tobacco prices, because its unhealthy, the Government are excused to add on high % of tax. To sum it unsustainable products are becoming more and more disliked and the only way to designing succesful products is designing the lifecycle instead of the product so that it dosn't simply go from cradle to grave but rather from cradle to cradle.
Sustainability
What is meant by the term ‘sustainability’?
Sustainability is a term used to describe something which is not hunted within near extinction – for example chopping down 3000 trees in South America is not sustainability, whereas if you planted 5000 after you would not only be replacing the ones chopped down, but allowing more to regenerate and thrive. South American tribes use ‘Slash n Burn’ techniques to provide temporary residences, the ground is then fertilized with the ash burned from the chopped trees. After the minerals are washed out the soil, due to lack of foliage, they move on to another location and the forest re-grows back.
Sustainability is also about the people on earth, people are extorted in many ways – poor pay and working conditions. Sustainability aims to provide a better quality of life for people by paying them the correct wage for their work.
Sustainability is the perfect utopia: for the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants, present and in the future.
What is meant by ‘design for sustainability’?
Design for sustainability is an emphasis that we, as designers, have to think about the planet that we live in, rather than extorting it for all its resources. It shows that design also has a criteria to be socially and environmentally responsible for its actions. There is a strong emphasis on taking what we need rather than mass-obliteration of natural resources – also the idea of replacing and regenerating the resource which we have taken.
We have the responsibility to protect the plant, its resources and the people that live here. Sustainable design is something which tackles these issues head on globally.
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/About-Design/Business-Essentials/Sustainability/
Design For Sustainability
The term sustainable design is often used interchangeably with related terms such as eco-design or design for environment, or green design (used less these days). This is because sustainable design evolved from the attempt to incorporate environmental considerations into design.
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/About-Design/Business-Essentials/Sustainability/
This generally means that when you are designing something you have to take into account the environment and the consequence of creating the product.
Carbon Footprint
A ‘carbon footprint’ measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by a person, organisation, event or product.
The footprint considers all six of the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).
A carbon footprint is measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). The carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) allows the different greenhouse gases to be compared on a like-for-like basis relative to one unit of CO2. CO2e is calculated by multiplying the emissions of each of the six greenhouse gases by its 100 year global warming potential (GWP).
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/cut-carbon-reduce-costs/calculate/carbon-footprinting/Pages/carbon-footprinting.aspx
Carbon footprints are a measurement as to ones amount of carbon emissions – i.e. pollution. We are constantly bombarded with advice telling us to fly less, take public transport and even limit the amount of times we boil the kettle or flush the toilet.
A carbon footprint is an actual size of how much pollution each person on the planet makes – however this information can be misleading, some people fly more than 1 time a week others 1 time a year. Instead of trying to reduce how many times people fly or drive their car, we should be looking at more ‘green’ ways to drive, for example Hybrid cars
What is Eco-efficiency?
Eco-efficiency is increasingly becoming a key requirement for success in business. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) describes eco-efficiency as a management strategy of doing more with less. In practice, eco-efficiency is achieved through the pursuit of three core objectives:
1. Increasing product or service value;
2. Optimizing the use of resources; and,
3. Reducing environmental impact.
Because of the opportunity for cost savings associated with each of these objectives, addressing them makes good business sense. In fact, case studies of companies that have adopted eco-efficient technologies and practices demonstrate that eco-efficiency stimulates productivity and innovation, increases competitiveness and improves environmental performance.
Reaping the Benefits
Eco-efficiency offers a number of practical benefits for your business, including
• Reduced costs - through more efficient use of energy and materials;
• Reduced risk and liability - by "designing out" the need for toxic substances;
• Increased revenue - by developing innovative products and increasing market share;
• Enhanced brand image - through marketing and communicating your improvement efforts;
• Increased productivity and employee morale - through closer alignment of company values with the personal values of the employees; and,
• Improved environmental performance - by reducing toxic emissions, and increasing the recovery and reuse of "waste" material.
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ee-ee.nsf/eng/h_ef00010.html
Eco-efficiency is about minimising environmental hazard while maximising its value. It is about finding the most eco-friendly way of producing a product (materials, process, transport , marketing and advertising) without having to diminish all profits.
It is also about getting the most from each resource, without over producing and creating waste. Generally getting the most from a material.
Kenco Refill Bag
Kenco Eco Refill bags are much more eco friendly than their jars because they are more efficient to produce (than the traditional glass jars). 97 % (source: Kraft eco calculator) less waste goes to landfill because the plastic lids are not easily recycled. The bag uses 81% less energy to produce compared to the jars.
The material used for the traditional lid (polypropylene)is difficult to recycle due to the lack of recycling plants in the UK able to recycle it.
‘an Eco Refill pack weighs less than the jar lid alone...everyone (whether they recycle their glass jar or not) can reduce their waste’
The Eco Refill bags are recycled into bags, pencil cases and umbrellas thanks to TerraCycle, a company which Kenco have partnered with.
www.kenco.co.uk
The TerraCycle Kenco® Tote Bag is an affordable, fashionable and most importantly environmentally responsible way to shop for your groceries, take your books to class or materials to work! The body of the tote is made from upcycled Kenco Coffee Eco refill wrappers. The film-like wrappers come are unusable wrappers that have been damaged or misprinted. Instead of this unusable material going to landfill, TerraCycle upcycles it in to this attractive, durable tote bag. Multiple wrappers are fused together to make a thick, difficult to damage material from which to make this reusable tote bag.
http://www.terracycle.co.uk/products/4-The-Kenco-Tote-Bag
The Kenco refill bags, I think, are a good idea as they are more eco-friendly to manufacture and recycle than the glass equivalent. You can send your refill bags to Terracycle who produce shopping bags, etc from the material. This is a really good way of reusing the material.
What are the issues that a Product Designer will have to consider:
• How to produce goods that will not ruin natural resources, pollute the earth to manufacture and release Co2 when transporting the good globally.
• Natural resources like wood must not be mass-chopped down, and also trees must be planted to replace others. Oil usage must be reduced and new methods to manufacture and transport must be found, e.g. using wind to power.
• Materials such as plastics must be carefully reused or recycled without causing pollutions.
• Designers will have to work more the people who supply raw materials to ensure that they are being treated fairly and that materials are not being overused.
• How products are manufactured and where? Most products, e.g. fruit, travel long distances to get to our supermarkets. Locally produced food should be adopted by leading supermarkets and retailers.
• We also need to think about what we do with a product when it has fulfilled its purpose? Do we reuse it, recycle it or does its lifespan never end...
This could be done by really thinking about whether we need the product we are designing? If you design a concept which reduces landfill waste, we need to ensure that it becomes mainstream, other than simply adding another product to the otherwise bulging market. Global companies who only produce products for profit, should have legal restrictions as to how much they can produce, and also help donate profits back into the earth.
Why Should Designers Give A Damn?
Designers should give a damn because we are the ones who can directly influence how we produce, manufacture and sell a product. We have the luxury of choosing the cheap-kill-the earth choice or opting for something which will have long term benefits other than quick cash. We as designers also have the ability to change societies and the way people perceive things – we need to tackle the current obsession with disposability within society. We need to unite together to help provide a much more sophisticated way of designing products of the future and start thinking about what people will need tomorrow and how we are going to provide it...
Personally I believe that we should give a damn, because we are the people who are designing the products which are not environmentally friendly or harmful to the planet. However I do believe that it should not just be a select few individuals around the world, there needs to be a much better organization of designers who want to change the way we design and manufacture products.
What is meant by the term ‘sustainability’?
Sustainability is a term used to describe something which is not hunted within near extinction – for example chopping down 3000 trees in South America is not sustainability, whereas if you planted 5000 after you would not only be replacing the ones chopped down, but allowing more to regenerate and thrive. South American tribes use ‘Slash n Burn’ techniques to provide temporary residences, the ground is then fertilized with the ash burned from the chopped trees. After the minerals are washed out the soil, due to lack of foliage, they move on to another location and the forest re-grows back.
Sustainability is also about the people on earth, people are extorted in many ways – poor pay and working conditions. Sustainability aims to provide a better quality of life for people by paying them the correct wage for their work.
Sustainability is the perfect utopia: for the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants, present and in the future.
What is meant by ‘design for sustainability’?
Design for sustainability is an emphasis that we, as designers, have to think about the planet that we live in, rather than extorting it for all its resources. It shows that design also has a criteria to be socially and environmentally responsible for its actions. There is a strong emphasis on taking what we need rather than mass-obliteration of natural resources – also the idea of replacing and regenerating the resource which we have taken.
We have the responsibility to protect the plant, its resources and the people that live here. Sustainable design is something which tackles these issues head on globally.
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/About-Design/Business-Essentials/Sustainability/
Design For Sustainability
The term sustainable design is often used interchangeably with related terms such as eco-design or design for environment, or green design (used less these days). This is because sustainable design evolved from the attempt to incorporate environmental considerations into design.
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/About-Design/Business-Essentials/Sustainability/
This generally means that when you are designing something you have to take into account the environment and the consequence of creating the product.
Carbon Footprint
A ‘carbon footprint’ measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by a person, organisation, event or product.
The footprint considers all six of the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).
A carbon footprint is measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). The carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) allows the different greenhouse gases to be compared on a like-for-like basis relative to one unit of CO2. CO2e is calculated by multiplying the emissions of each of the six greenhouse gases by its 100 year global warming potential (GWP).
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/cut-carbon-reduce-costs/calculate/carbon-footprinting/Pages/carbon-footprinting.aspx
Carbon footprints are a measurement as to ones amount of carbon emissions – i.e. pollution. We are constantly bombarded with advice telling us to fly less, take public transport and even limit the amount of times we boil the kettle or flush the toilet.
A carbon footprint is an actual size of how much pollution each person on the planet makes – however this information can be misleading, some people fly more than 1 time a week others 1 time a year. Instead of trying to reduce how many times people fly or drive their car, we should be looking at more ‘green’ ways to drive, for example Hybrid cars
What is Eco-efficiency?
Eco-efficiency is increasingly becoming a key requirement for success in business. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) describes eco-efficiency as a management strategy of doing more with less. In practice, eco-efficiency is achieved through the pursuit of three core objectives:
1. Increasing product or service value;
2. Optimizing the use of resources; and,
3. Reducing environmental impact.
Because of the opportunity for cost savings associated with each of these objectives, addressing them makes good business sense. In fact, case studies of companies that have adopted eco-efficient technologies and practices demonstrate that eco-efficiency stimulates productivity and innovation, increases competitiveness and improves environmental performance.
Reaping the Benefits
Eco-efficiency offers a number of practical benefits for your business, including
• Reduced costs - through more efficient use of energy and materials;
• Reduced risk and liability - by "designing out" the need for toxic substances;
• Increased revenue - by developing innovative products and increasing market share;
• Enhanced brand image - through marketing and communicating your improvement efforts;
• Increased productivity and employee morale - through closer alignment of company values with the personal values of the employees; and,
• Improved environmental performance - by reducing toxic emissions, and increasing the recovery and reuse of "waste" material.
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ee-ee.nsf/eng/h_ef00010.html
Eco-efficiency is about minimising environmental hazard while maximising its value. It is about finding the most eco-friendly way of producing a product (materials, process, transport , marketing and advertising) without having to diminish all profits.
It is also about getting the most from each resource, without over producing and creating waste. Generally getting the most from a material.
Kenco Refill Bag
Kenco Eco Refill bags are much more eco friendly than their jars because they are more efficient to produce (than the traditional glass jars). 97 % (source: Kraft eco calculator) less waste goes to landfill because the plastic lids are not easily recycled. The bag uses 81% less energy to produce compared to the jars.
The material used for the traditional lid (polypropylene)is difficult to recycle due to the lack of recycling plants in the UK able to recycle it.
‘an Eco Refill pack weighs less than the jar lid alone...everyone (whether they recycle their glass jar or not) can reduce their waste’
The Eco Refill bags are recycled into bags, pencil cases and umbrellas thanks to TerraCycle, a company which Kenco have partnered with.
www.kenco.co.uk
The TerraCycle Kenco® Tote Bag is an affordable, fashionable and most importantly environmentally responsible way to shop for your groceries, take your books to class or materials to work! The body of the tote is made from upcycled Kenco Coffee Eco refill wrappers. The film-like wrappers come are unusable wrappers that have been damaged or misprinted. Instead of this unusable material going to landfill, TerraCycle upcycles it in to this attractive, durable tote bag. Multiple wrappers are fused together to make a thick, difficult to damage material from which to make this reusable tote bag.
http://www.terracycle.co.uk/products/4-The-Kenco-Tote-Bag
The Kenco refill bags, I think, are a good idea as they are more eco-friendly to manufacture and recycle than the glass equivalent. You can send your refill bags to Terracycle who produce shopping bags, etc from the material. This is a really good way of reusing the material.
What are the issues that a Product Designer will have to consider:
• How to produce goods that will not ruin natural resources, pollute the earth to manufacture and release Co2 when transporting the good globally.
• Natural resources like wood must not be mass-chopped down, and also trees must be planted to replace others. Oil usage must be reduced and new methods to manufacture and transport must be found, e.g. using wind to power.
• Materials such as plastics must be carefully reused or recycled without causing pollutions.
• Designers will have to work more the people who supply raw materials to ensure that they are being treated fairly and that materials are not being overused.
• How products are manufactured and where? Most products, e.g. fruit, travel long distances to get to our supermarkets. Locally produced food should be adopted by leading supermarkets and retailers.
• We also need to think about what we do with a product when it has fulfilled its purpose? Do we reuse it, recycle it or does its lifespan never end...
This could be done by really thinking about whether we need the product we are designing? If you design a concept which reduces landfill waste, we need to ensure that it becomes mainstream, other than simply adding another product to the otherwise bulging market. Global companies who only produce products for profit, should have legal restrictions as to how much they can produce, and also help donate profits back into the earth.
Why Should Designers Give A Damn?
Designers should give a damn because we are the ones who can directly influence how we produce, manufacture and sell a product. We have the luxury of choosing the cheap-kill-the earth choice or opting for something which will have long term benefits other than quick cash. We as designers also have the ability to change societies and the way people perceive things – we need to tackle the current obsession with disposability within society. We need to unite together to help provide a much more sophisticated way of designing products of the future and start thinking about what people will need tomorrow and how we are going to provide it...
Personally I believe that we should give a damn, because we are the people who are designing the products which are not environmentally friendly or harmful to the planet. However I do believe that it should not just be a select few individuals around the world, there needs to be a much better organization of designers who want to change the way we design and manufacture products.
Me and aimees chat :)
speaking to aimee there about things with no packaging she was speaking about the Lush products and i then was speaking about a diodrant i used to have which reduced carbon footprint as well as had no packaging for the life of me i can not remember the name of it or where i got it but it was like a crystal rock which you ran under water and would then apply to your arm pit. It lasted forever i was advised to get it as i have sensitive skin. It slowly reduced in size until there was nothing left.
2nd Example of Sustainable Design
Philips Smart Tap - a water efficient tap at your fingertips
With traditional taps, a large amount of water is often wasted while waiting for it to reach the desired temperature. With the Smart Tap, water can be saved by selecting the temperature through a touch sensitive water controller built into the Table next to the embedded sink. By placing a finger on the controller the temperature can be felt through its material before running the tap. Like the Table, the Smart Tap provides feedback on consumption over 24 hour versus the last two weeks. The Green Cuisine's water tap also filters and mineralizes water.
With traditional taps, a large amount of water is often wasted while waiting for it to reach the desired temperature. With the Smart Tap, water can be saved by selecting the temperature through a touch sensitive water controller built into the Table next to the embedded sink. By placing a finger on the controller the temperature can be felt through its material before running the tap. Like the Table, the Smart Tap provides feedback on consumption over 24 hour versus the last two weeks. The Green Cuisine's water tap also filters and mineralizes water.
http://www.simplicityevent.philips.com/global/tomorrow/green_cuisine/
What is meant by ”design for sustainability?”
What is meant by ”design for sustainability?”
p8 of Materials and Design 2.1 input to the design process.
When we are designing a product or anything we look at the main factors, which are shown in this diagram 2.1. Sustainability is one of the many main factors.
By designing for sustainability we are looking towards the future and trying to help move design forward without the expense of the future.
Diagram: Material and design
- Do not design products, but life cycles
- Natural materials are not always better
- Energy consumption: often underestimated
- Increase product life time
- Do not design products, but services
- Use a minimum of material
- Use recycled materials
- Make your product recyclable
- Ask stupid questions
- Become an O2 member!
http://www.pre.nl/ecodesign/ecodesign.htm
From the guidelines I believe when I design in the future I will have to be more conscious of the material and process that I use. This will then hopefully help the future generation to become aware and help the earth.
A company produced a packaging designed to keep a foodstuff fresh for 18 months. After critical questions, we discovered that their products were consumed within 3 months. This gave way for completely different packaging solutions.
When reading this story the solution seemed so obvious. This results in; if people research more into the market and the lifespan of the product, they can answer a completely different question from: how long we make it survive? To how long does it need to survive?
23/04/2010 – Going back to when I spoke to my Granddad about my project and he said a piece of sustainable design was the Swiss army knife as it the only thing that has changed about it in all the years it has been on the market is they have changed the plastic part on it as they used to make it with a material called Bakelite a substance which resembles plastic and was used before plastic came along. Isn’t this something to think about how a manufacture can run for this long and have never been out of business? Why is this? As hi-tech things such as iPod and game boys etc are out of date within months. Image from :
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://rubayeet.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/swiss_army_knife1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://rubayeet.wordpress.com/2008/04/23/what-kind-of-weapon-is-a-programming-language/&usg=__kCcvyEVAFuI6rpFOVBIElGqZwgs=&h=500&w=500&sz=36&hl=en&start=4&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=O1sFBNgBlMFznM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dswiss%2Barmy%2Bknife%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1
.jpg)
Why should designers give a dam
Well yeah we should give a damn for our children, after all were pretty much messing up the world by burning all the fossil fuels, therefore heating up the planet which will seemly cause the polar caps to melt flooding the world!
So maybe we should be using less greenhouse gasses, but in 50 years this problem shouldn’t be as much as a problem, due to the fact we’ll have ran out of the biggest pollution gasses.
So maybe we should be using less greenhouse gasses, but in 50 years this problem shouldn’t be as much as a problem, due to the fact we’ll have ran out of the biggest pollution gasses.
Eco efficiency – “is the efficiency with which environmental resources are used to meet human needs and can help achieve the aim of maximising benefits while minimising risks.”
http://www.epaw.co.uk/EPT/glossary.html
to me this makes a lot of sense, I feel that the environment is something we really need to look after for the future, I mean who really wants our kids to die from flooding! Buy making life easier we need to create simple products, but at the same time we want minimum risk of damaging out planet, by using less fuels.
To me, this just means we need to be more careful with all the products were creating, by try using as little fuels as possible, and being friendly to the environment by recycling.
http://www.epaw.co.uk/EPT/glossary.html
to me this makes a lot of sense, I feel that the environment is something we really need to look after for the future, I mean who really wants our kids to die from flooding! Buy making life easier we need to create simple products, but at the same time we want minimum risk of damaging out planet, by using less fuels.
To me, this just means we need to be more careful with all the products were creating, by try using as little fuels as possible, and being friendly to the environment by recycling.
1st Example of Sustainable Design
Steve Nash and Nike Turn Garbage Into "Trash Talk"
New Nike "Trash Talk" Shoe Made from Manufacturing Waste
Nash is the All-Star guard for the Phoenix Suns whose passion for environmental awareness forged a partnership with Nike to create the Nike Trash Talk, the first performance basketball shoe made from manufacturing waste. Nash will debut the Nike Trash Talk tomorrow night in Phoenix against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Nike Trash Talk is modeled after Nash’s current shoe, the Nike Zoom BB II Low, and meets Nike’s Considered design standards for taking a sustainable approach to performance footwear innovation.
“Any opportunity to promote the environment and preserve our planet is a step in the right direction,” Nash said. “I’m very excited to be one of the first athletes to wear the Nike Trash Talk. I think people will love the shoe, and hopefully by wearing it I can inspire others to try it out as well.”
Nike footwear designer, Kasey Jarvis said: “ We were really looking for a ‘here and now’ solution to footwear waste, and creating a performance product using waste materials felt like a very innovative solution. Using Nike’s Considered design ethos we were able to create a shoe that stands up to the stringent on-court performance requirements but is also more environmentally friendly.”
The Nike Trash Talk meets Nike’s Considered design standards because…
The upper is pieced together from leather and synthetic leather waste from the factory floor using zig-zag stitching.
The mid-sole uses scrap-ground foam from factory production
The outsole uses environmentally-preferred rubber that reduces toxics and incorporates Nike Grind* material from footwear outsole manufacturing waste.
The Phoenix Suns’ colorways will have shoe laces and sockliners which use environmentally-preferred materials and will be packaged in a fully recycled cardboard shoe box.
Nike is releasing a limited number of the Nike Trash Talk in three different colorways – two Phoenix Suns colorways (home and away) and one colorway for Nash to wear this week for the All-Star Game. The All-Star colorway will be sold at the House of Hoops by Foot Locker in New York and in New Orleans this week with a suggested retail price of $100. The Phoenix Suns colorways will launch April 22, 2008 at the House of Hoops by Footlocker.
About Nike Considered and Nike Grind:
As part of Nike’s commitment to innovate for a better world, the company has committed to designing all footwear to meet Nike’s baseline or higher Considered design standards by 2011. Nike’s Considered ethos challenges designers to use environmentally preferred materials, reduce waste, create sustainable manufacturing processes and use innovation to help reduce our overall environmental impact.
*Nike Grind: Nike created a recycling program in 1993 called Reuse-A-Shoe, which collects worn-out athletic shoes of any brand and recycles the footwear into usable material we call Nike Grind (rubber from the outsole, foam from the midsole and fabric from the upper). We also collect and recycle material left over from footwear manufacturing. Nike Grind is used in Considered product and in sports surfaces such as basketball courts, soccer turf and playgrounds which are donated to communities around the world.
The Nike "Trash Talk" shoe uses scrap-ground foam from factory production, The outsole uses environmentally-preferred rubber that reducestoxics and incorporates Nike Grind material from footwear.
http://www.nikebiz.com/media/pr/2008/02/13_Nash.html
New Nike "Trash Talk" Shoe Made from Manufacturing Waste
Nash is the All-Star guard for the Phoenix Suns whose passion for environmental awareness forged a partnership with Nike to create the Nike Trash Talk, the first performance basketball shoe made from manufacturing waste. Nash will debut the Nike Trash Talk tomorrow night in Phoenix against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Nike Trash Talk is modeled after Nash’s current shoe, the Nike Zoom BB II Low, and meets Nike’s Considered design standards for taking a sustainable approach to performance footwear innovation.
“Any opportunity to promote the environment and preserve our planet is a step in the right direction,” Nash said. “I’m very excited to be one of the first athletes to wear the Nike Trash Talk. I think people will love the shoe, and hopefully by wearing it I can inspire others to try it out as well.”
Nike footwear designer, Kasey Jarvis said: “ We were really looking for a ‘here and now’ solution to footwear waste, and creating a performance product using waste materials felt like a very innovative solution. Using Nike’s Considered design ethos we were able to create a shoe that stands up to the stringent on-court performance requirements but is also more environmentally friendly.”
The Nike Trash Talk meets Nike’s Considered design standards because…
The upper is pieced together from leather and synthetic leather waste from the factory floor using zig-zag stitching.
The mid-sole uses scrap-ground foam from factory production
The outsole uses environmentally-preferred rubber that reduces toxics and incorporates Nike Grind* material from footwear outsole manufacturing waste.
The Phoenix Suns’ colorways will have shoe laces and sockliners which use environmentally-preferred materials and will be packaged in a fully recycled cardboard shoe box.
Nike is releasing a limited number of the Nike Trash Talk in three different colorways – two Phoenix Suns colorways (home and away) and one colorway for Nash to wear this week for the All-Star Game. The All-Star colorway will be sold at the House of Hoops by Foot Locker in New York and in New Orleans this week with a suggested retail price of $100. The Phoenix Suns colorways will launch April 22, 2008 at the House of Hoops by Footlocker.
About Nike Considered and Nike Grind:
As part of Nike’s commitment to innovate for a better world, the company has committed to designing all footwear to meet Nike’s baseline or higher Considered design standards by 2011. Nike’s Considered ethos challenges designers to use environmentally preferred materials, reduce waste, create sustainable manufacturing processes and use innovation to help reduce our overall environmental impact.
*Nike Grind: Nike created a recycling program in 1993 called Reuse-A-Shoe, which collects worn-out athletic shoes of any brand and recycles the footwear into usable material we call Nike Grind (rubber from the outsole, foam from the midsole and fabric from the upper). We also collect and recycle material left over from footwear manufacturing. Nike Grind is used in Considered product and in sports surfaces such as basketball courts, soccer turf and playgrounds which are donated to communities around the world.
The Nike "Trash Talk" shoe uses scrap-ground foam from factory production, The outsole uses environmentally-preferred rubber that reducestoxics and incorporates Nike Grind material from footwear.
http://www.nikebiz.com/media/pr/2008/02/13_Nash.html
2 strong examples of sustainable design
When carrying out research for the We Eco packaging project earlier this year I was recommended the design council website to get some inspiration for sustainable packaging ideas. I remember I found an article on a small shop which uses next to no new packaging. The shops owner used designers right from the start to drive the business forward. She worked with a design agency to develop a strong brand, which would be challenging because the whole concept removes the very thing that is the usuall vehicle for branding.
A simple classic storage jar inspired the unpackaged logo.
Unpackaged flyers are printed on recycled paper using vegetable inks where possible.
Unpackaged sells only reusable packaging like these zip up plastic bags which customers fill themselves, get weighed by the till and pay for, saving 50p every time they reuse any bit of packaging. I think this is very good for attracting customers to come back.
Interestingly these bags are also branded but not with a label but with use of an unpackaged emboser. Everything seems to be environmentally considered.
A simple classic storage jar inspired the unpackaged logo.
Unpackaged flyers are printed on recycled paper using vegetable inks where possible.
Unpackaged sells only reusable packaging like these zip up plastic bags which customers fill themselves, get weighed by the till and pay for, saving 50p every time they reuse any bit of packaging. I think this is very good for attracting customers to come back.
Interestingly these bags are also branded but not with a label but with use of an unpackaged emboser. Everything seems to be environmentally considered.
ref source http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/
Another example of sustainable design is the Lather Lamp which uses a soap bottle as the lamp cover providing vibrant coloured illumination meaning people should be attracted to buy it.
I think its important that if we are reusing materials that the product is still desireable so that people arn't atrracted to buying the more attractive product that uses finite resources and materials. This lamp as an individual product is sustainable because if someone buys this instead of a conventional lamp then they will lower their carbon footprint. The plastic used to make a lamp shade is a direct product of crude oil.
Another example of sustainable design is the Lather Lamp which uses a soap bottle as the lamp cover providing vibrant coloured illumination meaning people should be attracted to buy it.
I think its important that if we are reusing materials that the product is still desireable so that people arn't atrracted to buying the more attractive product that uses finite resources and materials. This lamp as an individual product is sustainable because if someone buys this instead of a conventional lamp then they will lower their carbon footprint. The plastic used to make a lamp shade is a direct product of crude oil.
Ref source sustainable by design book
This is my lifecycle board for the Metro newspaper.
This is my lifecycle board for the Metro newspaper.
Why should designers give a damn?
Why should designers give a damn?
I found this question to be a conclusion to the project so to sum up this is why designers should give a damn:
· By trying to find new ways to help the earth we will be showing the future generation and helping them out.
· As Albert Einstein says “ The world we have is the product of our way of thinking.”
· To conclude the simplest reason to give a damn is that the worlds resources won’t last forever and “ the survivor of the fittest is the one that can adapt.”
I found this question to be a conclusion to the project so to sum up this is why designers should give a damn:
· By trying to find new ways to help the earth we will be showing the future generation and helping them out.
· As Albert Einstein says “ The world we have is the product of our way of thinking.”
· To conclude the simplest reason to give a damn is that the worlds resources won’t last forever and “ the survivor of the fittest is the one that can adapt.”
My findings on Eco-efficiency
I found a useful and well explained article on a Canadian industry website. It helped me to understand what eco-efficiency is. This is what I now know;
Eco-efficiency is increasingly becoming a key requirement for success in business. Its a management strategy for doing more with less and it is achieved by completing three objectives;
1 Increasing product or service value
2 Optimising the use of resources, and
3 Reducing environmental impact.
Each of these gives an opportunity for cost savings, so it makes very good business sense to follow them. Case studies show that companies that have bought Eco-efficient technology and practices have higher productivity and innovation, increses competitiveness and improves environmental performance.
Reaping the Benefits
Eco-efficiency offers a number of practical benefits for your business, including
Reduced costs - through more efficient use of energy and materials;
Reduced risk and liability - by "designing out" the need for toxic substances;
Increased revenue - by developing innovative products and increasing market share;
Enhanced brand image - through marketing and communicating your improvement efforts;
Increased productivity and employee morale - through closer alignment of company
values with the personal values of the employees; and,
Improved environmental performance - by reducing toxic emissions, and increasing the recovery and reuse of "waste" material.
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic
Eco-efficiency is increasingly becoming a key requirement for success in business. Its a management strategy for doing more with less and it is achieved by completing three objectives;
1 Increasing product or service value
2 Optimising the use of resources, and
3 Reducing environmental impact.
Each of these gives an opportunity for cost savings, so it makes very good business sense to follow them. Case studies show that companies that have bought Eco-efficient technology and practices have higher productivity and innovation, increses competitiveness and improves environmental performance.
Reaping the Benefits
Eco-efficiency offers a number of practical benefits for your business, including
Reduced costs - through more efficient use of energy and materials;
Reduced risk and liability - by "designing out" the need for toxic substances;
Increased revenue - by developing innovative products and increasing market share;
Enhanced brand image - through marketing and communicating your improvement efforts;
Increased productivity and employee morale - through closer alignment of company
values with the personal values of the employees; and,
Improved environmental performance - by reducing toxic emissions, and increasing the recovery and reuse of "waste" material.
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic
What is meant by eco-efficiancy?
Three definitions that I think explain the term eco-efficiency best.
Eco-efficiancy
The development of technologies that generate economic growth, but which do so at minimal cost to the environment.
http://www.polity.co.uk/giddens5/students/glossary/default.asp
Eco-efficiency
Put at its simplest eco-efficiency is about making more and better products with less (materials and being more energy efficient) and which last longer.
http://www.sd3-global.com/glossary.html
Eco-efficiency
The delivery of competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life, while progressively reducing environmental impacts and resource intensity throughout the life cycle, to a level at least in line with the earth’s estimated carrying capacity.
http://www.ami.ac.uk/courses/topics/0100_gls/glossary/glosse.htm
Eco-efficiancy
The development of technologies that generate economic growth, but which do so at minimal cost to the environment.
http://www.polity.co.uk/giddens5/students/glossary/default.asp
Eco-efficiency
Put at its simplest eco-efficiency is about making more and better products with less (materials and being more energy efficient) and which last longer.
http://www.sd3-global.com/glossary.html
Eco-efficiency
The delivery of competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life, while progressively reducing environmental impacts and resource intensity throughout the life cycle, to a level at least in line with the earth’s estimated carrying capacity.
http://www.ami.ac.uk/courses/topics/0100_gls/glossary/glosse.htm
3 key pillars of sustainable design/development
The three key pillars of sustainability are:
Social - people
Environmental - planet
Economic - profit
The word 'pillar' suggests separate, static entities when in fact there is a dynamic between all three elements. It might be easier to think of them as three balls in a juggling act - the trick is to keep them working together in a simple, smooth process. At the moment, it has to be said, we often don't juggle too well. But we're making progress.
http://www.design-council.org/About-Design/Business-Essentials/Sustainability/?print=true
Sustainability involves juggling a number of issues in a careful balancing act
Materials - using less material (lightweighting), fewer materials (making it easier to recycle) and if possible avoiding toxic substances and choosing renewable or recycled/recyclable.
Dematerialisation - could include some of the above, lightweighting for example, but also designing things to be multifunctional, or finding a different way to deliver the same benefit through a service or product-service combination, variously referred to as selling performance or results, or 'product service systems' (PSS).
Design for disassembly - making things easy to take apart so they can be repaired, serviced, upgraded, remanufactured, or recycled, such as through modular design, or smart materials which can self-disassemble when needed.
Energy - both in production (which would mean looking at the manufacturing process), and in use and disposal. This includes minimising energy use, moving to the use of renewable energy, and extracting energy from waste in some cases.
Life extension - keeping a product, or its parts or materials, in productive use for their optimal lifespan, so slowing or preventing the linear flow of materials from extraction and processing to disposal.
Transport - minimising it, that is. Sourcing a renewable, impeccably green material which you ship four times round the world may not be as sustainable as something a little less clean from down the road.
Nevertheless, a 'green product' could actually be unsustainable. Let's imagine you make something that uses recyclable and renewable materials, but you use child labour so nobody wants to buy it, and it ends up being dumped anyway, driving you out of business. You would have thrown the environmental ball up in the air for a moment, but you'd have dropped the social and economic balls, with the environmental one following soon after.
http://www.design-council.org/About-Design/Business-Essentials/Sustainability/Its-not-easy-being-green/
Social - people
Environmental - planet
Economic - profit
The word 'pillar' suggests separate, static entities when in fact there is a dynamic between all three elements. It might be easier to think of them as three balls in a juggling act - the trick is to keep them working together in a simple, smooth process. At the moment, it has to be said, we often don't juggle too well. But we're making progress.
http://www.design-council.org/About-Design/Business-Essentials/Sustainability/?print=true
Sustainability involves juggling a number of issues in a careful balancing act
Materials - using less material (lightweighting), fewer materials (making it easier to recycle) and if possible avoiding toxic substances and choosing renewable or recycled/recyclable.
Dematerialisation - could include some of the above, lightweighting for example, but also designing things to be multifunctional, or finding a different way to deliver the same benefit through a service or product-service combination, variously referred to as selling performance or results, or 'product service systems' (PSS).
Design for disassembly - making things easy to take apart so they can be repaired, serviced, upgraded, remanufactured, or recycled, such as through modular design, or smart materials which can self-disassemble when needed.
Energy - both in production (which would mean looking at the manufacturing process), and in use and disposal. This includes minimising energy use, moving to the use of renewable energy, and extracting energy from waste in some cases.
Life extension - keeping a product, or its parts or materials, in productive use for their optimal lifespan, so slowing or preventing the linear flow of materials from extraction and processing to disposal.
Transport - minimising it, that is. Sourcing a renewable, impeccably green material which you ship four times round the world may not be as sustainable as something a little less clean from down the road.
Nevertheless, a 'green product' could actually be unsustainable. Let's imagine you make something that uses recyclable and renewable materials, but you use child labour so nobody wants to buy it, and it ends up being dumped anyway, driving you out of business. You would have thrown the environmental ball up in the air for a moment, but you'd have dropped the social and economic balls, with the environmental one following soon after.
http://www.design-council.org/About-Design/Business-Essentials/Sustainability/Its-not-easy-being-green/
my new findings on what a 'carbon footprint' is
My first interpretation was inaccurate. The carbon footprint is not represented by the littering of the can. This can would be an example of 1 0f many products that we use that contributes to our secondary footprint. Our secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use. It is a measure of the CO2 emissions caused in their manufacture and eventual breakdown i.e a car getting crushed uses a high power crusher which consumes a huge amount of energy. This process involves high CO2 emissions on our behalf. The factory that produces the can creates high CO2 emissions, another example of a secondary carbon footprint
Our primary carbon footprint is a measure of directly controlled uses of products and services that cause CO2 emissions. An example of a use of a service that causes CO2 emissions is home electricity. an example of product use that causes CO2 emmisions is the car or private transport.
The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tonnes (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Our primary carbon footprint is a measure of directly controlled uses of products and services that cause CO2 emissions. An example of a use of a service that causes CO2 emissions is home electricity. an example of product use that causes CO2 emmisions is the car or private transport.
The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tonnes (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Thursday 22 April 2010
my post on 'design for sustainability'
commonly refered to as designing for the environment. Design companies are highly aware that their brand reputation is an important driver for consumers. The companies brand identity should be associated with sustainability. When I researched different design websites, they all stated that one of the most important things about designing a product is understanding how it impacts the environment. So if your wanting to design for sustainability then you must be able to assess which design solution is environmentally preferable.
I saw these guidlines. These helped me to understand what 'designing for sustainability' actually means;
1. Design not products, but life cycles. Do not design green products. Instead you should design environmentally sound product life cycles. Try think about all material inputs and energy use of a product during its whole life cycle. From cradle to grave or even better from cradle to cradle.
2. Natural materials are not always better. of course the production of 1 KG of causes less emissions than the production of 1kg of plastic. But what about the paint to preserve the wood, the energy needed to dry, the sawing losses.
3. Energy consumption is often under estimated. Many designers focus their attention on material selection. This is not always justified.
If a product consumes energy in the use phase, there is a ten to one chance that energy consumption is dominant. People normally under estimate the environmental impacts of energy as you cannot hold electricity or gas in your hands.
4. Increase product life time. You can influence the product life time in several ways. Make it more durable from a technical point of view, or by making it upgradeable( allowing to place the latest chip in a computer or washing machine)
more importantly, try to make the product so that people feel attached to it. Many products are not thrown away because they are broken but because the owners get bored with them.
5. Do not design products but services.
6. Use a minimum of material.
7. Use recycled materials.
8. Make your product recyclable.
9. Ask stupid questions.- Desicions are often based on common practice, you can make huge improvements in environmental performance by simply asking the obvious 'Why?'
10. Become an 02 member. This is an international network for sustainable design where designers gather together, share ideas and over tools.
www.pre.nl/ecodesign
I saw these guidlines. These helped me to understand what 'designing for sustainability' actually means;
1. Design not products, but life cycles. Do not design green products. Instead you should design environmentally sound product life cycles. Try think about all material inputs and energy use of a product during its whole life cycle. From cradle to grave or even better from cradle to cradle.
2. Natural materials are not always better. of course the production of 1 KG of causes less emissions than the production of 1kg of plastic. But what about the paint to preserve the wood, the energy needed to dry, the sawing losses.
3. Energy consumption is often under estimated. Many designers focus their attention on material selection. This is not always justified.
If a product consumes energy in the use phase, there is a ten to one chance that energy consumption is dominant. People normally under estimate the environmental impacts of energy as you cannot hold electricity or gas in your hands.
4. Increase product life time. You can influence the product life time in several ways. Make it more durable from a technical point of view, or by making it upgradeable( allowing to place the latest chip in a computer or washing machine)
more importantly, try to make the product so that people feel attached to it. Many products are not thrown away because they are broken but because the owners get bored with them.
5. Do not design products but services.
6. Use a minimum of material.
7. Use recycled materials.
8. Make your product recyclable.
9. Ask stupid questions.- Desicions are often based on common practice, you can make huge improvements in environmental performance by simply asking the obvious 'Why?'
10. Become an 02 member. This is an international network for sustainable design where designers gather together, share ideas and over tools.
www.pre.nl/ecodesign
Friday 16 April 2010
What is a Carbon Footprint?
Carbon footprint - an individual's carbon footprint is the direct effect one's actions and lifestyle have on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. This is usually estimated by using a Carbon Calculator. From our home electricity use, to travel, to our diet, to the clothes we wear, all of our actions involve emission of carbon dioxide and have direct or indirect impact in accelerating climate change.
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/grants/Glossary.doc
The pie chart above shows the main elements whichmake up the total of a typical person's carbon footprint in the developed world.
carbon footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the primary footprint (shown by the green slices of the pie chart) and the secondary footprint (shown as the yellow slices).
1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane). We have direct control of these.
2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. To put it very simply – the more we buy the more emissions will be caused on our behalf.
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/carbonfootprint.html
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/grants/Glossary.doc
The pie chart above shows the main elements whichmake up the total of a typical person's carbon footprint in the developed world.
carbon footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the primary footprint (shown by the green slices of the pie chart) and the secondary footprint (shown as the yellow slices).
1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane). We have direct control of these.
2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. To put it very simply – the more we buy the more emissions will be caused on our behalf.
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/carbonfootprint.html
Design for sustainability?
What does it have to do with design?
The term sustainable design is often used interchangeably with related terms such as eco-design or design for environment, or green design (used less these days). This is because sustainable design evolved from the attempt to incorporate environmental considerations into design.
Design is utterly crucial to moving towards a more sustainable future - by rethinking how we deliver products and their benefits without decimating the world around us, or compromising the well-being of others (now or in the future); sustainability is a key to enhanced performance and greater competitiveness.
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/About-Design/Business-Essentials/Sustainability/
So really what is meant by this is, moving design forward so that new designs take the environment into consideration and the effects of that new design on the environment.
The term sustainable design is often used interchangeably with related terms such as eco-design or design for environment, or green design (used less these days). This is because sustainable design evolved from the attempt to incorporate environmental considerations into design.
Design is utterly crucial to moving towards a more sustainable future - by rethinking how we deliver products and their benefits without decimating the world around us, or compromising the well-being of others (now or in the future); sustainability is a key to enhanced performance and greater competitiveness.
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/About-Design/Business-Essentials/Sustainability/
So really what is meant by this is, moving design forward so that new designs take the environment into consideration and the effects of that new design on the environment.
Friday 26 March 2010
example of eco-friendly product
these GP AA 2100 mAh 1.2V rechargable batteries come precharged so that you can buy them and use them straight away. They also hold their charge better than original NiMH batteries so they can be charged and left ready for use. The way that the power is delivered means that they are comparable to much higher capacity batteries. These 2100mAh AA batteries can be used for general applications in both the home and at work and are excellent for Digital devices such as cameras.Instant use
Long time storage
Environmentally friendly
Re-usable
High capacity
Good for high, mid and low drain applicationsUse straight out the pack, lasting 6 times longer than alkaline, once recharged they will hold 90% of their charge up to 6 months after charging.For more information visit www.gprecyko.com
http://www.thegreenstoreonline.co.uk/default.aspx/Page/97/Product/904/GP-ReCyKo-Rechargeable-AA-2100mAh-Battery-x-4
What is a carbon footprint
“A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a person, organization or state in a given time”
A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc.
The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tones (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.
A carbon footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the primary footprint (shown by the green slices of the pie chart) and the secondary footprint (shown as the yellow slices).
1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane). We have direct control of these
2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. To put it very simply – the more we buy the more emissions will be caused on our behalf.
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/carbonfootprint.html
On the whole I think it is obvious that change is required. We must change the way we live as a whole. In the last centaury products have been designed with sustainability at the end of the qew in relation to other design factors such as aesthetics, cost etc. this needs to change…the population of the earth is growing rapidly and unless we attempt to reduce or carbon emissions the earth will simply not survive. For to long people have been naive to the harm that bad design decisions can have and it is time to grab the bull by the horns and take a stand. This could consist of swapping our high powered fuel guzzling BMW to a lower powered model, hybrid vehicle or even converting to public transport. Walking and using a bike is also a great alternative however the bike chosen must be taken into account…buyers must be away of the manufacturing process which have taken place in order to sell a bike for 50 pounds…
Check out your carbon footprint!
www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7JlaHeZnP0
“A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a person, organization or state in a given time”
A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc.
The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tones (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.
A carbon footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the primary footprint (shown by the green slices of the pie chart) and the secondary footprint (shown as the yellow slices).
1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane). We have direct control of these
2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. To put it very simply – the more we buy the more emissions will be caused on our behalf.
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/carbonfootprint.html
On the whole I think it is obvious that change is required. We must change the way we live as a whole. In the last centaury products have been designed with sustainability at the end of the qew in relation to other design factors such as aesthetics, cost etc. this needs to change…the population of the earth is growing rapidly and unless we attempt to reduce or carbon emissions the earth will simply not survive. For to long people have been naive to the harm that bad design decisions can have and it is time to grab the bull by the horns and take a stand. This could consist of swapping our high powered fuel guzzling BMW to a lower powered model, hybrid vehicle or even converting to public transport. Walking and using a bike is also a great alternative however the bike chosen must be taken into account…buyers must be away of the manufacturing process which have taken place in order to sell a bike for 50 pounds…
Check out your carbon footprint!
www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7JlaHeZnP0
Sustainability
○Sustainable
Word definition:
1. To support the weight of, as a structure. endure without giving way or yielding or to keep up or keep going, as an action or process
Sustainability is a cycle process which always ensures that there is a beginning and an end. It is a controlling process which allows you to manage what resources etc you have. Ultimately it creates a balance between all factors that are in the cycle.
○Design for sustainability
Using sustainability in design allows the designer, manufacturer, and consumer to control the resources, pollution, carbon footprint, and environmental cost it results in on the earth. Sustainability balances the resources with the demand of a product. It’s a way of looking after the future of the product and the bio effects on the earth.
○Carbon footprint
A carbon footprint measures the carbon dioxide contributed from each person. The carbon dioxide that is produced from each activity you undertake every minute of the day all results in rising the earths temperature. As a whole the carbon dioxide produced from all over the world is too much and continues to stay at the same level or rise. The reason why it’s such a hot topic is that it’s at an unnatural level and nothing has been done to solve the problem. The rising temperatures results in the ice bergs malting, hotter summers, colder winters etc. The ice bergs melting creates a chain reaction of problems throughout the world. The sea levels will rise which will increase flooding on islands, the polar bears will lose their refuge, a lot of polar bears will die which will affect the sustainable cycle of nature and the food chain.
○Three pillars of sustainability
Sustainable design is built round the three P’s.
People: Sustainable design gives the opportunity to supply small/large communities with jobs which provides extra revenues to communities. The extra revenue ultimately provides a better life style for civilians and takes the pressure of governments to introduce schemes to help the local’s money situation. Providing jobs also gives the product a strong foundation to meet consumer’s high/small demand throughout the products life.
Profit: For the product to be successful a profit has to be made in more ways than one. Firstly the demand of the product from consumers has to meet the manufacture productivity to allow there to be no wastage on material and resources. If there is wastage it affects the company manufacturing budget and it effect the environmental cost through pollution and the planets limited resources. If the product is not successful it takes away the opportunity for creating local jobs to small communities and all of the above.
Planet: Sustainable design has to start with a sustainable natural resource. For a product to have a sustainable future the manufacturer/consumer etc has to replace what they take from their vital natural resource. The manufacturer has to manage their resource to meet the demand of the product and not exploit their resource.
○Eco-efficiency
Eco efficiency is a way of retailing products to allow a profitable outcome for workers with small and large roles in the product life cycle. Eco efficiency also looks at material consideration. The ability to maximise the use of waste product to use as a sustainable source profits the environment( landfill) and gives the manufacturer a cheap readily available source.
○Two examples of sustainable design
Example one:
The glass cookery bowl is a sustainable designed product because:
Multi Uses
In the kitchen the glass bowl can be used for a number of uses which gives the product flexibility for extra demand from consumers. The glass bowl has grown to being a standard item in the kitchen environment through its countless function.
Example Two:
BARR drinks had a glass bottle return scheme. The user returned their empty bottle of juice and profited from an extra twenty pence in their pocket. The scheme ensured that BARR could reuse the glass bottle which reduces the need to manufacture new bottles and ultimately a reduced cost in manufacture and on the environment resources. Reusing is one of the key elements in the cycle of sustainability but however it all depends on the consumer doing it for themselves.
○Example three:
Religious pieces is a product that carry’s the teddy bare effect with the consumer. The secret history gives the product much more sentimental meaning and ultimately belief in the product. The product makes the user feel apart of something and give their life meaning morally. The products life cycle could last for years to generations through its personal attachment.
○Issues in product design
Designers today and in the future have to consider sustainable design as a must. Future designers must fully understand all the elements of the products design process down to its grass routes and consider everyone in that process. Considering all the elements in the design cycle allows there to be a control process and a real life knowledge of the environmental impact their product has.
○Solution
The designers of tomorrow have to communicate with manufacturers/local communities/green organisations etc and all work as a unit to tackle this ever rising issue that need to be addressed. There has to be less emphasis on profit from major design firms and more on the environmental cost short term and long term. I suggest to look back to go forward, You would be amazed how many methods of sustainable design was used generations ago. Example: The Indians hunted the buffalo and had a purpose for every part of that animal, not one bit of waste.
○Why should designers give a damn
Designers have to consider this factor (sustainable future, environmental issues) as a designer professionally and personally. As a hole this is a problem that effects us all and finding a sustainable solution for our products effects the way we live our live in the future.
○Sustainable
Word definition:
1. To support the weight of, as a structure. endure without giving way or yielding or to keep up or keep going, as an action or process
Sustainability is a cycle process which always ensures that there is a beginning and an end. It is a controlling process which allows you to manage what resources etc you have. Ultimately it creates a balance between all factors that are in the cycle.
○Design for sustainability
Using sustainability in design allows the designer, manufacturer, and consumer to control the resources, pollution, carbon footprint, and environmental cost it results in on the earth. Sustainability balances the resources with the demand of a product. It’s a way of looking after the future of the product and the bio effects on the earth.
○Carbon footprint
A carbon footprint measures the carbon dioxide contributed from each person. The carbon dioxide that is produced from each activity you undertake every minute of the day all results in rising the earths temperature. As a whole the carbon dioxide produced from all over the world is too much and continues to stay at the same level or rise. The reason why it’s such a hot topic is that it’s at an unnatural level and nothing has been done to solve the problem. The rising temperatures results in the ice bergs malting, hotter summers, colder winters etc. The ice bergs melting creates a chain reaction of problems throughout the world. The sea levels will rise which will increase flooding on islands, the polar bears will lose their refuge, a lot of polar bears will die which will affect the sustainable cycle of nature and the food chain.
○Three pillars of sustainability
Sustainable design is built round the three P’s.
People: Sustainable design gives the opportunity to supply small/large communities with jobs which provides extra revenues to communities. The extra revenue ultimately provides a better life style for civilians and takes the pressure of governments to introduce schemes to help the local’s money situation. Providing jobs also gives the product a strong foundation to meet consumer’s high/small demand throughout the products life.
Profit: For the product to be successful a profit has to be made in more ways than one. Firstly the demand of the product from consumers has to meet the manufacture productivity to allow there to be no wastage on material and resources. If there is wastage it affects the company manufacturing budget and it effect the environmental cost through pollution and the planets limited resources. If the product is not successful it takes away the opportunity for creating local jobs to small communities and all of the above.
Planet: Sustainable design has to start with a sustainable natural resource. For a product to have a sustainable future the manufacturer/consumer etc has to replace what they take from their vital natural resource. The manufacturer has to manage their resource to meet the demand of the product and not exploit their resource.
○Eco-efficiency
Eco efficiency is a way of retailing products to allow a profitable outcome for workers with small and large roles in the product life cycle. Eco efficiency also looks at material consideration. The ability to maximise the use of waste product to use as a sustainable source profits the environment( landfill) and gives the manufacturer a cheap readily available source.
○Two examples of sustainable design
Example one:
The glass cookery bowl is a sustainable designed product because:
Multi Uses
In the kitchen the glass bowl can be used for a number of uses which gives the product flexibility for extra demand from consumers. The glass bowl has grown to being a standard item in the kitchen environment through its countless function.
Example Two:
BARR drinks had a glass bottle return scheme. The user returned their empty bottle of juice and profited from an extra twenty pence in their pocket. The scheme ensured that BARR could reuse the glass bottle which reduces the need to manufacture new bottles and ultimately a reduced cost in manufacture and on the environment resources. Reusing is one of the key elements in the cycle of sustainability but however it all depends on the consumer doing it for themselves.
○Example three:
Religious pieces is a product that carry’s the teddy bare effect with the consumer. The secret history gives the product much more sentimental meaning and ultimately belief in the product. The product makes the user feel apart of something and give their life meaning morally. The products life cycle could last for years to generations through its personal attachment.
○Issues in product design
Designers today and in the future have to consider sustainable design as a must. Future designers must fully understand all the elements of the products design process down to its grass routes and consider everyone in that process. Considering all the elements in the design cycle allows there to be a control process and a real life knowledge of the environmental impact their product has.
○Solution
The designers of tomorrow have to communicate with manufacturers/local communities/green organisations etc and all work as a unit to tackle this ever rising issue that need to be addressed. There has to be less emphasis on profit from major design firms and more on the environmental cost short term and long term. I suggest to look back to go forward, You would be amazed how many methods of sustainable design was used generations ago. Example: The Indians hunted the buffalo and had a purpose for every part of that animal, not one bit of waste.
○Why should designers give a damn
Designers have to consider this factor (sustainable future, environmental issues) as a designer professionally and personally. As a hole this is a problem that effects us all and finding a sustainable solution for our products effects the way we live our live in the future.
the world's most eco-friendly electronics firms
GREENPEACE RANKINGS
1) Lenovo: 8
2) Nokia: 7.3
3=) Sony/Ericsson: 7
3=) Dell: 7
5=) Samsung: 6.3
5=) Motorola: 6.3
7) Fujitsu/Siemens: 6
8) Hewlett-Packard: 5.6
9) Acer: 5.3
10) Toshiba: 4.3
11) Sony: 4
12=) LG Electronics: 3.6
12=) Panasonic: 3.6
14) Apple: 2.7
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6525307.stm
1) Lenovo: 8
2) Nokia: 7.3
3=) Sony/Ericsson: 7
3=) Dell: 7
5=) Samsung: 6.3
5=) Motorola: 6.3
7) Fujitsu/Siemens: 6
8) Hewlett-Packard: 5.6
9) Acer: 5.3
10) Toshiba: 4.3
11) Sony: 4
12=) LG Electronics: 3.6
12=) Panasonic: 3.6
14) Apple: 2.7
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6525307.stm
Two examples of sustainable design
Mater-Bi is a 100% recyclable material “100% Compostable Plastic” http://www.polymailplastics.com/materbidetails.htm
http://www.biobags.co.uk/technical/mater_bi.htm There are a lot of products which are actually made of the material, like Bio bags. Basically your bin bags will be able to degrade within about 50 days!A graph showing how long it’ll take for the degrading to take effect!Since on the bag issues, I guess another bag which is good, will be an eco bag.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPDTwlhJkcwThis just shows how the regular plastic bags you get these days, which have actually been banned in a few places, are so dangerous. When John Peterson in 1979, came up with the idea of it I don’t think he thought that “An estimated one million seabirds are killed each year by plastic, plus 100,000 seals, sea lions, whales and dolphins.”http://www.btmbeijing.com/contents/en/btm/2008-02/cultureshock/cultureconnectionanother item which I like is: The Sustainable Bike: Bamboo as the New Metalhttp://www.ethicalshopping.com/health-beauty/sports-outdoor/sustainable-bike-bamboo-new-metal.htmlInstead of the old metal, using up the metal materials, i feel the bamboo is a fantastic idea!I feel that using the bamboo; will help cut down the amount of metal we use in bikes.Not only is bamboo lighter than steel, it’s actually more comfortable to ride than carbon fiber frames.http://www.bikebamboo.com/bamboo_bicycles.php
http://www.biobags.co.uk/technical/mater_bi.htm There are a lot of products which are actually made of the material, like Bio bags. Basically your bin bags will be able to degrade within about 50 days!A graph showing how long it’ll take for the degrading to take effect!Since on the bag issues, I guess another bag which is good, will be an eco bag.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPDTwlhJkcwThis just shows how the regular plastic bags you get these days, which have actually been banned in a few places, are so dangerous. When John Peterson in 1979, came up with the idea of it I don’t think he thought that “An estimated one million seabirds are killed each year by plastic, plus 100,000 seals, sea lions, whales and dolphins.”http://www.btmbeijing.com/contents/en/btm/2008-02/cultureshock/cultureconnectionanother item which I like is: The Sustainable Bike: Bamboo as the New Metalhttp://www.ethicalshopping.com/health-beauty/sports-outdoor/sustainable-bike-bamboo-new-metal.htmlInstead of the old metal, using up the metal materials, i feel the bamboo is a fantastic idea!I feel that using the bamboo; will help cut down the amount of metal we use in bikes.Not only is bamboo lighter than steel, it’s actually more comfortable to ride than carbon fiber frames.http://www.bikebamboo.com/bamboo_bicycles.php
What is a carbon footprint?
Carbon footprint – "The total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product"According to the defined meaning of google.co.uk
By what we do at home, it affects how much carbon monoxide we give off, and so we are all directly responsible for how much we give off and therefore heating up the world
“In the last 100 years the Earth has warmed by 0.74°C”
http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/actonco2/home/climate-change-the-facts/Rising-temperatures-and-the-greenhouse-effect.html
This is just proof we are using far too much electricity, from these power plants.
By what we do at home, it affects how much carbon monoxide we give off, and so we are all directly responsible for how much we give off and therefore heating up the world
“In the last 100 years the Earth has warmed by 0.74°C”
http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/actonco2/home/climate-change-the-facts/Rising-temperatures-and-the-greenhouse-effect.html
This is just proof we are using far too much electricity, from these power plants.
Design of sustainability
I guess when someone says this, you just think of the 3 Ps, people, planet, profit.
The design of a product should be something, which helps all these things, people don’t want to lose money when making a product, the need to make a profit!
I guess people say “protect the environment” and what not, so they go into the design aspects of trying to protect our plant from the massive amounts of garbage we’re left with:
“According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of garbage a day, or a total of 29 pounds (13 kg) per week and 1,600 pounds (726 kg) a year”
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-much-garbage-does-a-person-create-in-one-year.htm
Seemly this is how much the average American leaves in a year, other sites like wiki said each UK person produces 1.5 tons of rubbish a year. The main job is just to produce items which really can eco friendly degrade. Of course, we do all this for the people of earth, but not just the people, the animals and plant life too.
The design of a product should be something, which helps all these things, people don’t want to lose money when making a product, the need to make a profit!
I guess people say “protect the environment” and what not, so they go into the design aspects of trying to protect our plant from the massive amounts of garbage we’re left with:
“According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of garbage a day, or a total of 29 pounds (13 kg) per week and 1,600 pounds (726 kg) a year”
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-much-garbage-does-a-person-create-in-one-year.htm
Seemly this is how much the average American leaves in a year, other sites like wiki said each UK person produces 1.5 tons of rubbish a year. The main job is just to produce items which really can eco friendly degrade. Of course, we do all this for the people of earth, but not just the people, the animals and plant life too.
Good Sustainable Design
This 'Forest milk'by Amita Corporation won the 2009 good design award. This milk is took from the cows which stay in the forests. It has also been nomanated for the best package design award.
''The cows in forest farms are allowed to roam free, and are not given any imported feed. The milk is low-temperature pasteurized, and is said to have a slight green tint at times. Of course the milk itself is worthy of praise, but the bottle, with its soft design and trendy illustration is what caught our attention. Through the design, one can appreciate the forest farming project’s concept of ‘creating sustainable relationships’.''
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://greenz.jp/en/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/good-design-forest-milk-01.JPG&imgrefurl=http://nd-dev.com/en/2010/01/18/good-design-awards-2009-forest-milk/%3Fview%3Dco_post&usg=__j4ic_HmsbN6xMIV7_6grzDskCrc=&h=375&w=500&sz=39&hl=en&start=72&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=_sLPx5uwjJAnJM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsustainable%2Bgood%2Bdesign%2Bproduct%26start%3D63%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26ndsp%3D21%26tbs%3Disch:1
The designer Shigeki Kunimatsu from Rise Design Office commented on the award:
“By bringing the forest closer to our every day lives, we can reevaluate the charm and value of forests. And by reevaluating the value of natural resources, I hope people can connect better not only with nature, but with each other as well.”
I agree with this that by bringing things back home for people will impact them and make them think. This then might result in people using our materials wisely and not taking them for advantage. It also would bring alot of people together to work as a community.
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