Sustainability

Question 1

Define sustainability

Answer 1

-The materials required for a product can be replenished without running out

Question 2

What is the purpose of being sustainable?

Answer 2

Meeting today’s needs without compromising for the needs of the future generations.

Question 3

What two categories are the quantity of materials labelled as?

Answer 3

• Finite

- Non-finite

Question 4

Define finite

Answer 4

Resources which will eventually run out

Question 5

Define non-finite

Answer 5

Resources that can be replenished without running out

Question 6

What are the 6Rs?

Answer 6

• Rethink
• Recycle
• Repair
• Refuse
• Reduce
• Reuse

Question 7

Rethink?

Answer 7

Is there a better way of making a product that is less harmful to the environment?

Can the design be simplified to make manufacture easier.

Question 8

Recycle?

Answer 8

Can the product be recycled easily after is is no longer needed?

Can the components and materials be separated?

Can recyclable materials be used?

Question 9

Repair?

Answer 9

Can this product be repaired easily if breaks?

Can the components parts be replaced easi?

Question 10

Refuse?

Answer 10

Consumers may not buy a product if it is not environmentally friendly or if it is made by people in poor work conditions.

Question 11

Reuse?

Answer 11

Can any parts be reused if no longer needed?

Can the product be reused for something else once primary use is no longer required?

Question 12

Define Carbon Footprint

Answer 12

A measure of the greenhouse gases emitted by human activity

Question 13

How can the carbon footprint caused by transportation be reduced?

Answer 13

• Sourcing materials from local/closer manufacturing centres and potential markets
• Using energy efficient means of transporting goods, for example electric or hybrid vehicles.

Question 14

Define hybrid vehicles?

Answer 14

Use both petrol and electric as fuel.

Question 15

How do you reduce pollution when manufacturing a product?

Answer 15

• Using cleaner energy sources, such as solar
• Electric vehicle for transporting goods
• Products built to last and easy to repair, causing less waste
• Use recyclable or biodegradable materials

Question 16

Define ecological footprint?

Answer 16

A measure of the impact that human activity has on the environment

Question 17

Define ecological deficit?

Answer 17

When resources are being used up faster than they are being produced by Nature.

Question 18

What is the humanity’s current ecological footprint?

Answer 18

1.7 Earth

Question 19

How long does the Earth take to replenish the resources which we use in 12 months?

Answer 19

18 months

Question 20

Define obsolescence

Answer 20

The act of designing a product which is not to be long-lasting and become dysfunctional overtime, in order to sell more of the products. For example, Apple product and lightbulbs.

Question 21

Why is planned-obsolescence environmentally bad and negative?

Answer 21

-Causes further strains on the world’s resources, leading to an ecological deficit