eco design

Question 1

what is eco design?

Answer 1

• eco-design considers the materials, energy consumptions and the environmental impacts (pollution and waste) over the entire lifecycle of a product
• It had a longer timescale
• Greater complexity as it looks into different stages of a product life cycle
• Higher risk involved
• Is based on the philosophy of cradle to cradle design

Question 1

Cradle to cradle philosophy

Answer 1

• a design philosophy that aims to eliminate waste from the production, use and disposal of a product
• Makes a product to be made again
• Eliminates or significantly reduces need for recycling as materials are either reused or returned to the environment

Question 2

Life cycle analysis (LCA)

Answer 2

• life cycle analysis is the assessment of the effect of a product on the environment through five stages
  1. Pre-production
  2. Production
  3. Distribution (includes packaging)
  4. Utilisation
  5. Disposal

Question 3

Pre-production (LCA)

Answer 3

• includes obtaining of natural resources
• Extraction or mining methods used (strip mining vs shaft mining)
• Transportation of raw materials to processing industries

Question 4

production (LCA)

Answer 4

• processing of the resources and shipping it to make the product. Once again it could be damaging to the environment
• Depending on processing methods, impact on environment can be minimal to drastic, a 3D printed product compared to product made with multiple industrial machinery creating lots of smoke

Question 5

Distribution including packaging (LCA)

Answer 5

• includes journey of taking product from factory to warehouse and from warehouse to store
• Could have large impact for package shipped across the world using styrofoam inserts and bubble wraps to secure it or very low impact if it is sold at or close to where it is made

Question 6

Utilisation (LSA)

Answer 6

• its about the products use and effect on the environment
• A diesel generator pollutes the air quite badly and make noise pollution while a solar panel will be pollution free

Question 7

Disposal (LCA)

Answer 7

this is about whether the product needs to be thrown away at the landfill like LDPE (low density polyethylene), can be recycled used or biodegradable

Question 8

Environmental impact assessment matrix

Answer 8

• this is a matrix where the 5 stages of the LCA are compared against different environmental considerations which generally include most of the following and a product could be graded on each of the considerations

> water pollution

> soil pollution and degradation

> air contamination

> noise generation

> energy consumption

> consumption of natural resources

> pollution and effect soft ecosystems

Question 9

what does DfE software need to allow?

Answer 9

• LCA to be carried out
• Select different manufacturing techniques to reduce environmental effects
• Run different scenarios to show environmental effects
• Optimise designs o get cost effective products which are at the same time environmentally friendly

Examples: autodesk inventor, Eco-designer, solidworks

Question 10

UNEP ecodesign manual (1996)

Answer 10

• UNEP stands for united nations environmental programme
• Released the eco design manual in 1996 also known as design for sustainability (D4S). The major considerations outlines in the manual were:

> reduce creation and use of toxic materials

> increase recyclability

> reduce energy consumption

> increased use of renewable resources

> increased product durability - reducing planned obsolescence

> reduce material requirements for products and services

Question 11

role of designer in eco-design

Answer 11

(designer is very high)

> The role of the designer throughout the life cycle is evident as the designer is responsible for everything. The designer has to plan the products obsolescence and how the object will be used

> It is safe to say on the other hand that the manufacturer has less involvement with the life cycle as the manufacturer is mainly responsible for the production and the distribution and packaging of the product

> The user has no involvement whatsoever regarding the making and selling of the product. The only thing that the user is directly involved in is the utilisation and the disposal of the product

Question 12

Product cycle (different from LCA)

Answer 12

• a cycle that every product goes through from introduction of a new product to consumers to its discontinuation

> Introduction: Product just released into market, slow pick up, undergoes changes as problems discovered

> growth: Product growth accelerates during this period, changes are kept to minimal

> Maturity: Product reaches peak sales during this period, changes kept to a minimum

> Decline: Product’s sale declines and it becomes obsolete