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