Sustainability

Sustainable

Something that has the minimum possible impact on the environment.

Sustainable Design

Is sometimes referred to as Responsible Design. A world commission, known as The Brundtland Commission, was set up to look at sustainable development. They defined this as: "development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". They recognise this as being made up of three strands: Economic, Social and Environmental. The famous Industrial designer Phillipe Starck said "Designers should define their role broadly as agents of good in the world, and limit their work to legitimate products. This means products that are needed, and those that can be made without damage to nature or - through the unethical actions of manufacturers and investors - damage to people".

Sustainability

is concerned with managing resources and activities so that we don't pollute our planet and deplete all our natural resources, leaving future generations with a big mess to try and fix. The six R's to help avoid this are:

Recycle		Recovering parts and materials to be used again when products reach the end of their useful life.
Reduce		Minimising wastage, by using less material or eliminating excessive packaging.
Refuse		Avoiding designs which, for example, use materials which are harmful to the environment or are difficult to recycle.
Repair		Designing products that can be repaired rather than those that have to be thrown out if they are damaged.
Rethink		Considering carefully whether there might be more sustainable alternatives to traditional products, methods and materials. Being prepared to implement changes in lifestyle can also help to achieve sustainability goals.
Reuse		Making it possible to use products again rather than discarding them.

 

Economic sustainability	How can a design continue to make money?
Economic sustainability relates to how designs are bought and perceived by different markets - private, public and non-profit sectors. Designers’ tasks include expanding or creating markets, and improving consumer appeal of designs and profitability.
Social sustainability	How can design support human well-being?
This is often associated with architecture but the same type of thinking can also be applied to products and systems. An example could be housing. How dwellings are designed can affect an area and the inhabitants in them. This can involve many things - how the aesthetics of buildings make people feel, landscape (trees & open spaces), availability of transport, recreational opportunities (sport, dog walking, playgrounds etc.), how long dwellings can last (manufacturing methods), can they be extended or upgraded to accommodate more people, can they be resold and used by other people etc.
Ecological sustainability	How can design help to keep us safe and avoid damaging the environment in which we live?
Many people think that the actions of humans are overwhelming nature’s systems and impacting upon environmental conditions that support human well-being. Global warming, pollution, endangered species etc.
Upcycling
Upcycling is the creative reuse of unwanted products and materials. The aim is to improve the impact on the environment. Examples include:

Invisible Bar Codes for recycling

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/business-50335737/could-invisible-barcodes-revolutionise-recycling

 

	Wooden delivery pallets being used to make furniture.
	Storage containers being used as small coffee outlets and cafes.
	Glass jars being used as vases and drinking glasses.
	Using ice cream and coffee containers for other purposes.
	Lighting for bars and restaurants made from old bottles.
	Guitars made from motor oil cans.
	Plectrums made from old credit cards.
	Bags and belts made from discarded tyre inner tubes.

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Useful Resources

https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/en-AU/

https://www.recyclenow.com/

https://www.recycle-more.co.uk/

https://www.designorate.com/category/sustainable-design/

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Sustainability Tasks

In pairs, answer the following questions. You are to submit a Report using Word.   1) What do we mean by non renewable resources? Give examples. 2) Give an example of a material that is easy to recycle? Why is it easy to recycle? 3) Give an example of a material that is difficult to recycle? Why is it difficult to recycle? 4) Why is ease of disassembly becoming an important factor in the design of cars and white goods? 5) Electric and hybrid cars are on the increase. What issues are related to the Lithium batteries they use? 6) In design, what does the phrase 'cradle to grave' mean? 7) Explain what is unique and revolutionary about the 'Think Chair'? 8) Give three examples of how manufacturers are attempting to use less packaging? 9) Provide three examples of products that consumers could refuse to buy because they have a detrimental effect on the environment. 10) Many products are designed so they cannot be repaired. Provide three reasons why you think this approach has been adopted by some manufacturers? 11) What is a Fairphone and what is unique about it? 12) Provide examples of three 'lifestyle changes' that could be made in order to help sustain our environment. Explain how they help. 13) What are the websites Freecycle and Freegle used for? 14) What does the company WiTHiNTENT do? 15) What is Biomimicry? Provide two examples. 16) What is Micro-encapsulation? 17) List ten items you throw away after you have used them.

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