Green design integrates environmental considerations into the design of a product without compromising its integrity.

The starting point for many green products is to improve an existing product by redesigning aspects of it to address environmental objectives. The iterative development of these products can be incremental or radical depending on how effectively new technologies can address the environmental objectives. When newer technologies are developed, the product can re-enter the development phase for further improvement.

• Strategies for green design (incremental and radical)

• Green legislation

• Timescale to implement green design

• Drivers for green design (consumer pressure and legislation)

• Design objectives for green products

• Strategies for designing green products

• The prevention principle

• The precautionary principle

• How strategies for green design often involve a focus on one or two environmental objectives when designing or re-designing products

• How green legislation encourages incremental rather than radical changes

• How environmental legislation has encouraged the design of products that tackle specific environmental issues

• How design objectives for green products address three broad environmental categories—materials, energy and pollution/waste

• Evaluating products in terms of: consumption of raw materials; packaging; incorporation of toxic chemicals; energy in production and use; end-of-life disposal; production methods; and atmospheric pollutants

As a designer you need to understand that the purpose of green design is to ensure a sustainable future for all.