1.2 Sustainability And The Environment

Question 1

Why does designers need to have a good idea of resources that they use?

Answer 1

Designers need to know which materials are sustainable to maintain their reputation. Over harvesting and overuse has a dire impact than the planet.

Question 2

What are finite resources?

Answer 2

Resources that are of limited supply or cannot be reproduced. Uses of this should be limited and alternatives should be used where possible

Question 3

What are non finite resources?

Answer 3

Resources which are in abundant supply which can be grown to replace the ones that have been used. They cannot be exhausted

Question 4

List the most important environmental factors to consider

Answer 4

• CO2 emissions while manufacturing
• Transportation emissions
• impact on the environment when sourcing or mining
• impact on availability
• material, maintainance and repair
• welfare of workers and Fairtrade
• ethics and the law

Question 5

What is lifecycle assessment?

Answer 5

It is a way for companies to assess the environmental Impact of a product during it’s lifespan. It also measures co2, energy and ethics

Question 6

5 main stages of LCA

Answer 6

Extraction and processing
Manufacturing
Distribution
Use
End of life

Question 7

Where is the energy used?

Answer 7

In extraction, energy is used to extract raw material or harvesting farming and to process it

Energy is used to refine raw materials to make a product

Energy is used for transportation to the end user and packaging

Energy is used while using in use by the users

Energy is required to recycle or dispose of waste

Question 8

What LCE?

Answer 8

To save energy, to improve working conditions, rediuce emissions, save material, to think about how the environment can be affected less

Question 9

How is waste controlled?

Answer 9

National and international organisations have limits set and fines in place to limit waste. Landfill sites also fill up fast.

Question 10

Define sustainability

Answer 10

Not causing permanent damage to the environment and not using up finite resources

Question 11

What is biodegradable?

Answer 11

If they can be broken down over time and don’t take up landfill like plastic

For example wood and paper can rot away

Question 12

What is carbon footprint?

Answer 12

The amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere by making, using and disposing a product throughout its life

Question 13

What does carbon footprint include?

Answer 13

The release of greenhouse gases during transportation, eg when resources are transported and the finished product is transported by burning fossil fuels as energy to the factory, to shops, to the user, and finally to its final disposal location

Emissions are also released during manufacturing and during use eg charging a phone releases CO2 because of the energy.

Question 14

Why is recycling important

Answer 14

All products eventually come to the end orphan their life so a new one must be made which causes production along with disposal. Plastic, paper, glass and some metals can be recycled

Question 15

What is design for disassembly?

Answer 15

Some products are made from many components and several materials which makes it hard to recycle because parts have to be separated. Design for disassembly is when a product is designed to be easily disassembled and be easily recycled or reused

Question 16

What is planned or built in obsolescence?

Answer 16

Products which are designed tk become useless quickly eg phones which go out of fashion when a new and better model comes out

Question 17

Why is build In obsolescence bad for the environment?

Answer 17

Because more materials and energy is used to make replacement products

Question 18

What is design for maintainance?

Answer 18

Products designed to last and have a less impact on the environment by making it durable and so that parts can be repaired or replaced, eg most household appliances like washing machines which can be repaired

Another example is that mobile phones and tablets can be designed so that parts can be individually upgraded or replaced which is an alternative to getting a completely new phone which cuts down on waste. Eg a new and fast processor

Question 19

What is carbon offsetting?

Answer 19

When companies invest into positive activities that reduce carbon emissions. They can reduce energy use and CO2 emissions, improve energy efficiency, incorporate renewable energy and purchase carbon offsets

Question 20

What are the 6Rs?

Answer 20

A guidance to help designers reduce the impact that new products have on the environment by devising sustainable solutions

Repair, reuse, recycle, rethink, reduce, refuse

Question 21

What is the hierarchy of sustainability?

Answer 21

A pyramid that places strategies that are the best for the planet above those that have a greater negative impact on the environment

Question 22

What is refuse?

Answer 22

Simply asking if something is necessary or not. This can save 100% of what would be used. You can refuse to buy a product that you do not need or think is wasteful, eg plastic bags and fish from overfishing

Question 23

What is rethink?

Answer 23

Thinking about the way a product is made or the materials used. Designers can ask if the materials are locally sourced, are they sustainably produced, are they finite and essential?

A product can be redesigned to be more efficient and environmentally friendly, eg a company can think how to communicate with their customers without paper

Question 24

What is reduce?

Answer 24

The result of rethinking a desig. Reducing the number of products a consumer needs to buy so that it cuts down on energy and materials used

Some examples are using modern materials which are stronger and save energy, making a design for disassembly, using motion sensitive lighting or heating, turn of lights and close windows to save energy

Question 25

What is reuse?

Answer 25

Extending a products life by using it again for the same or different purpose

Eg a glass milk bottle is reused but plastic ones aren’t

Donating to charity shops and buying from charity shops are a way of reusing and websites like eBay are used

Question 26

What is up cycling?

Answer 26

When furniture is repaired or repainted to extend its life

Question 27

What is repair?

Answer 27

Fixing something when it is broken or worn out to extend its life over replacing it with something new. Reconditioned products are repaired products which are cheaper and more sustainable.

Manufacturers can make a profit by selling replacement parts however it is often easier to replace than repair because products come as a sealed unit which must be replaced or expertise is needed to repair certain parts

Planned obsolescence and new technology also exist

Question 28

What is primary recycling?

Answer 28

Reusing a product in the same way multiple times

Question 29

What is secondary recycling?

Answer 29

Reusing a product in a different way to which it was designed

Question 30

What is recycling?

Answer 30

When products are made from more than one material and can be reused

Question 31

What is tertiary recycling?

Answer 31

Reprocessing material to recover recycled material, eg plastic, metal, glass and paper. However chemicals such as batteries are hard to recycle

Question 32

What is WEEE?

Answer 32

Recycling electrical items

Question 33

How is organic matter processed?

Answer 33

It rots or recovers

Food waste is composted to be used as a growing medium
Burning waste releases energy which can be used to generate electricity

Question 34

What are the 4 main ways producing a product that caters for the whole population?

Answer 34

One size fits all, a range of sizes, adjustability, adaptability to the location and user