Issues affecting the design of new products

Question 1

What drastic changes are there in society today that affect the new products being developed?

Answer 1

Working women, the changing structure of families, aging society(people living longer)

Question 2

What effects are there happening in the environment which affect new product development?

Answer 2

World food resources and transportation, climatic changes and the effect on crops, population growth, air miles, ways of extending the shelf life in transportation.

Question 3

What are the causes for increase in food mileage?

Answer 3

1.Concentration of the food supply base into fewer, larger suppliers, partly to meet demand for bulk year-round supplies of uniform produce.2.Major changes in delivery patterns with most goods now routed through supermarket regional distribution centres using larger heavy goods vehicles. 3.Centralised and concentrated sales in supermarkets where a weekly shop by car has replaced frequent pedestrian shop visits. 4.Globalisation of the food industry with increased imports and exports and wider sourcing of food in the UK

Question 4

What changes in the environment could help to reduce food mileage? Name two ways

Answer 4

1. Sourcing food more locally where appropriate 2.Reducing car food shopping