2.5 Green Design
Essential idea:
Green design integrates environmental considerations into the design of a product without compromising its integrity.
Nature and Aims of design
Nature of Design
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. (1.4)
Aims of Design
Aim 9: The purpose of green design is to ensure a sustainable future for all.
Guidance
As a student of Design Technology, you should:
Understand how strategies for green design often involve a focus on one or two environmental objectives when designing or re-designing products
Understand that green legislation encourages incremental rather than radical changes
Understand that environmental legislation has encouraged the design of products that tackle specific environmental issues
Understand that design objectives for green products address three broad environmental categories—materials, energy and pollution/waste
Evaluate 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
Concept and Principles
Green Design and Eco-design: What's the difference?
The terms Green Design and Eco-Design have different characteristics, particularly with regard to the timescale and complexity. Timescale refers to the length of time it takes to implement a design change. Long and short timescales are relative and typically determined by the complexity of the technological change being implemented. Incremental solutions, because of their simpler and smaller nature, are implemented on relatively short timescales. Radical solutions, because of their complexity are typically implemented on longer timescales.
Green-Design
Focus is on the re-engineering of a design to reduce it's environmental impact and increase its sustainability. Green design focuses on making changes that are typically incremental in nature: switching to a recyclable material, reducing energy in manufacturing or use, increasing durability of the product. Green Design typically focuses on one or two environmental objectives, such as switching to sustainable materials or reducing energy usage.
Short timescale
Incremental changes (small changes over time)
Low risk
Eco-Design
It is a more complex approach to sustainability. Think "ecology": The design fits into a system. Cradle-to-Cradle design (C2C), Circular Economies, etc. are examples of eco-design. For designers, eco-design is more than just using green materials--it considers the entire lifecycle of the product and its impacts.
Long timescale
Great complexity
High risk
Principles guiding designers
Two principles that should guide designers in how they make decisions:
The Prevention Principle: The avoidance or minimization of waste production
Designers should endeavor to avoid or minimize waste in all its forms with regards to the production, use, and disposal of the product. Designers should make decisions in the design process that strive to meet this principal
The Precautionary Principle: The anticipation of potential problems.
Designers should anticipate problems related to the production, use and disposal of their product and take measures to mitigate or eliminate them. In other words, designers should think ahead, inquire, predict any negative environmental impacts of their designs—we cannot be complacent.
Objectives for Green Design
Design objectives for green design fall into three broad categories. Designers and manufacturers can implement some of the following green design strategies
Materials
increasing the efficient use of material by reducing quantity required
selecting non-toxic material and environmentally friendly materials
minimizing the number of different materials used in a product
labelling materials so they can be easily identified for recycling and disposal
Energy
reducing the amount of energy required to manufacture or use a product
switching to sustainable or renewable energy sources
Pollution and Waste
Reducing the negative impacts of manufacturing (see Clean Technology)
considering the end-of-life of the product and designing to maximize sustainability goals
improving the durability of the product to ensure that it meets the objectives for the planned life of the product
Strategies for Green Design
Depending on how type of technology being used, changes can be classified as either incremental (small changes or iterations to a design), or radical (drastic changes to the design) to make the change,
Incremental Changes
Material: switching to a non-toxic or more sustainable, recyclable, environmentally friendly material for the product
Manufacturing Process: Switching to more sustainable processes that use less energy and generate less waste
Energy: Increasing the energy efficiency of the product; switching to more sustainable, renewable energy sources for manufacturing needs
Engineering: Designing a product to be disassembled easily (design for disassembly); Use of standardized parts across the product line to reduce the need for many different parts to be manufactured.
Incremental changes are lower risk because changes are smaller and predictable. These changes are often driven by legislation requirements or financial considerations.
Radical Changes
Completely changing the manufacturing process
The result is a completely new product or service that meets the needs of the user in a unique way.
Refer to "Drivers for Innovation" to understand why a company may make a calculated risk.
Radical changes are higher risk, especially in the early iterations because of the novel nature of the design decisions. These changes are often driven by a need to innovate in order to enter/create a new market or meet a new need.
Designers may identify a particular strategy or strategies to focus their design. These may be identified in the Design Constraints and Considerations of the Design Brief.
Designers may evaluate the product in order to identify possible opportunities to improve the sustainability. These could include:
The type, quantity, and processing of raw materials
They type and amount of packaging used for the design
Toxic chemicals and processes used in materials and processes
Amount and type of energy used in manufacturing and use of the product
The efficiency and sustainability of the manufacturing processes used to produce the product
The types and quantity of atmospheric, water, and solid waste produced in the manufacture, distribution, use and end-of-life of the product
The environmental impact of production, use, and disposal can be reduced, mitigated, or eliminated through carefully consideration at the design stage. For designers, considering these factors is just good design. Given our role as decision makers in the product design processes, it is essential for us to consider the impact of our decisions as early as possible in the design process, and to advocate for the most sustainable approach possible.
Resources
Designers have several tools available to help them evaluate the sustainability and impact of their designs. These include:
Materials Databases
Our Design Library also includes a variety of resources to help you understand the impact of materials decisions
Types of batteries
Drivers for Green Design
Green design can be driven by two main factors: Consumer Pressure and Legislation.
Legislation
Government legislation can be imposed, requiring that companies meet the requirements. Examples of legislation include:
Cars meet certain emissions requirements requiring the installation of catalytic converters to reduce the emission of harmful gases (carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons
The banning of CFcs (chlorofluorocarbons which are found in styrofoam, air conditioning coolants, and aerosol cans) because they are harmful to the environment. Manufacturers have needed to find alternatives
Green/High Performance Building Legislation, in particular the The American Clean Energy and Security Act, promotes the development of green retrofits and awarding of mortgages for energy efficient homes.
Labelling of plastic types to improve recycling: Many governments now mandate the labelling of the type of plastic used in a product in order to promote and improve the recycling (Plastics must be sorted by type in order to be recycled effectively - mixing of plastics in recycling result in inferior plastic types)
Consumer Pressure
Demands and pressure by consumer groups can also significantly influence a company's decision to adopt green design strategies.
Consumers may speak with their wallets, by only purchasing products that meet their expectations. Consequently, companies may implement green design solution in order to meet market demands and maintain market share.
As the public has become more aware of environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and plastic waste, manufacturers listen carefully to consumer demands.
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CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and Consumer Pressure
Cone Global Communications Strategy CSR Study found that:
91% of global consumers expect companies to do more than make a profit, but also operate responsibly to address social and environmental issues
84% say they seek out responsible products whenever possible
90% would boycott a company if they learned of irresponsible or deceptive business practices