Sustainability / 8.3 /
Sustainable Design
Sustainability / 8.3 /
Sustainable Design
Sustainable design is a philosophy of developing products in line with social, economic, and ecological sustainability principles. The first step to sustainable design is to consider a product, service or system in relation to eco-design and analyse its impact using life cycle analysis. The designer then develops these to minimize the environmental impacts identified from this analysis. Considering sustainability from the beginning of the process is essential.
Green design and sustainable design are two related concepts, but they have different focuses. Green design focuses on reducing the environmental impact of products and services. This can be done by using sustainable materials, reducing energy consumption, and reducing waste. Sustainable design takes a broader approach, considering the social, economic, and environmental impact of products and services. This means designing products and services that meet the needs of people without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Examples of green design:
Using recycled materials in products
Designing products to be energy-efficient
Designing products to be easy to repair or recycle
Examples of sustainable design:
Designing buildings that use renewable energy and are energy-efficient
Designing public transportation systems that reduce car use
Designing products that are made from sustainable materials and that are durable and long-lasting
One way to think about the difference between green design and sustainable design is that green design is focused on the present, while sustainable design is focused on the future. Green design is about reducing the environmental impact of products and services today, while sustainable design is about designing products and services that will meet the needs of people without harming the environment in the future.
Datschefski's five principles of sustainable design are:
Cyclic: Made from recyclable/organic materials. Example: A water bottle made from recycled plastic.
Solar: Energy required to manufacture and use product is renewable, cyclic and safe. Example: A solar-powered car.
Safe: By-products of manufacture or use are non-hazardous to the environment. Example: A detergent made from plant-based ingredients.
Efficient: Requires less energy, materials and water than equivalent products. Example: A LED light bulb.
Social: Manufacture and usage should underpin basic human rights, safe work practises, fair trade principles and natural justice.
These principles can be used to design and evaluate products, services, and systems to ensure that they are sustainable.
It is important to note that Datschefski's five principles are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are often complementary. For example, a product that is made from recyclable materials (cyclic) is also likely to be more efficient (requires less energy and materials to produce).
By following Datschefski's five principles of sustainable design, we can create products and services that are good for the environment, the economy, and society.