Resource management and sustainable production carefully consider three key issues consumption of raw materials, consumption of energy, and production of waste—in relation to managing resources and reserves effectively and making production more sustainable.

As non-renewable resources run out, designers need to develop innovative solutions to meet basic human needs for energy, food and raw materials. The development of renewable and sustainable resources is one of the major challenges of the 21st century for designers

• Renewable and non-renewable resources

• Reserves

• Renewability

• The economic and political importance of material and land resources and reserves considering set-up cost, efficiency of conversion, sustainable and constant supply, social impact, environmental impact and decommissioning

• Comparison of renewable and non-renewable resources

• Positive or negative impact that a development may have on the environment

As a designer you need to understand the impact of multinational companies when obtaining resources in different countries and regions and how these can be a significant issue for the local population and have major social, ethical and environmental implications.