IBDP Design Technology - 2.1 Resources and Reserves

Resource management and sustainable production / 2.1 /
Resources and reserves

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.

2.1.1 | Renewable and non-renewable resources

A renewable resource is a natural resource that can be replenished with the passage of time (on a human timescale) or does not abate at all.

Some renewable energy sources or commodities require careful management in order to maintain stock, e.g. plantation of timber for biomass. Other renewable resources are considered inexhaustible, e.g. wind, solar, tidal, waves and hydroelectric.

There is increased pressure from society to use renewable resources due to global issues such as the greenhouse effect, pollution and political instability due to the availability of secure oil supplies. The downsides of the use of some of these resources are high set-up costs, inconsistent and unreliable supply and low energy density.

Non-renewable resources are finite materials that will deplete over time, e.g. fossil fuels, minerals and ores. Non-renewable resources are often carbon-based: They result from organic material being heated and pressured into fuels such as coal, gas and oil over millions of years.

2.1.2 | Reserves

As a finite resource, a ‘non-renewable’ resource has a limited reserve. With dwindling reserves of oil, gas, and minerals the world its extraction and protection of individual nations' reserves has become a political issue in recent years. Many international treaties are now in place to protect reserves.

2.1.3 | Renewability

Renewability refers to a resource that is inexhaustible therefore can be replenished quickly. Hardwood trees, such as many rainforest species for example, take a considerable amount of time to mature to a point where it is useable as a resource. Therefore, it is considered non-renewable as some of these trees take hundreds of years to reach maturity. On the other hand, softwoods, such as pines or conifers, mature more quickly and are considered a renewable resource (5 to 20 years).

There are a number of ‘certification’ systems available worldwide to ensure that timber, paper or wood-derived product is from a sustainable source. Possibly the most widely used and well-known is the FSC, the Forestry Stewardship Council.

The development and use of renewable and sustainable resources is one of the major challenges of the 21st century for designers. The economic and political importance of material and land resources and reserves is an ever-increasing issue around the world. The modern designer needs to take these issues into consideration.

The impact of multinational corporations when obtaining resources have not always taken the most responsible actions. They have had a significant impact on local and regional communities and had major social, ethical and environmental implications on these communities.

In the current EU context, according to RED, biomass energy is a form of renewable energy. If the demand for renewable energy continues to grow, the use of wood fuel will rise as well. This will have an impact on our climate and forests.

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