2.8 Responsible design

Flashcards covering responsible design, the six Rs of sustainability, circular economy principles, and environmental impact of manufacturing based on the lecture transcript.

What concept was introduced by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987?

Sustainable development

How did the Brundtland Commission define sustainable development?

Development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

What are the three strands of sustainable development that designers must consider?

Economic, social, and environmental.

According to Philippe Starck, how should designers define their role?

As agents of good in the world, limiting their work to legitimate products that do not damage nature or people.

List the six Rs of sustainability.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Refuse, and Rethink.

In the context of the six Rs, what does 'Reduce' entail?

Cutting down the amount of material and energy used to make and package a product.

Provide an example of 'Reduce' in the production of bottled water.

Striving to use as little polymer as possible while retaining the integral strength of the bottle.

In the context of the six Rs, what does 'Reuse' refer to?

Using a product for the same or another purpose at the end of its initial life.

What is an example of reuse in coffee making?

Buying a glass jar of instant coffee and then reusing the jar by purchasing a refill pack.

In the context of the six Rs, what is the definition of 'Recycle'?

Converting waste products into new materials for new products.

What are the environmental impacts associated with metal extraction and timber harvesting mentioned in the text?

Scarring from metal extraction and loss of animal habitat and plant life from cutting trees.

What is 'Primary recycling'?

The use of functioning second-hand products that the first user no longer needs, often sourced from charity shops or sites like eBay.

What is 'Secondary recycling'?

At the end of a product's life, the materials are recycled to make different products, such as boat sails turned into beanbags.

What is 'Tertiary recycling'?

Completely breaking down a product and reformulating it via a chemical process, such as turning polymer bottles into fleece fibres.

In polymer recycling symbols, what does the number inside the triangle indicate?

How easy the polymer is to recycle, based on factors like the heat needed to reform it.

Which polymer type, commonly used for drinks bottles, is given a low recycling number because it is easy to reform?

$$\text{PET}$$

Which polymer is cited as being more difficult to recycle, often assigned a higher number?

$$\text{ABS}$$

In the context of the six Rs, what does 'Repair' mean?

Fixing a product or component when it fails rather than throwing it away.

In the context of the six Rs, what does 'Refuse' involve for the consumer?

Exercising choice as to whether to buy a product based on its environmental impact or necessity.

In the context of the six Rs, what does 'Rethink' encourage for manufacturers?

Designing products to carry out the same function more efficiently, such as using single materials for easy recycling.

How can a designer apply 'Reduce' to a TV remote control?

Making the walls as thin as possible, using essential buttons only, and utilizing solar or human-powered chargers.

What directive restricts the use of specific hazardous materials in electronic products?

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive.

What four environmental benefits do trees provide besides being a source of material?

Supplying oxygen, preventing flash flooding, fighting soil erosion, and acting as carbon sinks for $\text{CO}_{2}$.

What is a 'carbon footprint'?

The total amount of $\text{CO}_{2}$ released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of an individual, community, or organisation.

What does a 'primary carbon footprint' measure?

Direct emissions of $\text{CO}_{2}$ from burning fossil fuels, including transport and domestic energy consumption.

How much $\text{CO}_{2}$ is emitted for every one litre of petrol used?

$$2.3\,\text{kg}$$

What does a 'secondary carbon footprint' measure?

Indirect $\text{CO}_{2}$ emissions from the products we use.

Approximately how much $\text{CO}_{2}$ is produced by the production of five polymer carrier bags?

$$1\,\text{kg}$$

How does concentrated juice reduce environmental impact in packaging?

It reduces the amount of polymer required for the same number of servings.

What were the first-year reduction percentages in polymer bag usage for Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland after introducing the bag charge?

Wales: $71\,\%$, Northern Ireland: $72\,\%$, and Scotland: $80\,\%$.

Why did Bangladesh ban the use of thin polymer bags?

They contributed to blocked drainage systems during floods in a country that is flat and suffers from heavy rainfall.

How many barrels of oil does the USA use annually for manufacturing polymer bags?

$$12\,\text{million barrels}$$

What is 'overpackaging'?

The use of excessive amounts of material to contain a product, often for consumer convenience rather than functional requirements.

How did Marks and Spencer redesign pizza packaging to save material?

They replaced the polystyrene tray and shrink wrap inside a box with a narrow, recycled card sleeve.

What was the result of the Marks and Spencer pizza box redesign in terms of packaging reduction?

A $62\,\%$ reduction in overall packaging, saving over $480\,\text{tonnes}$ per year.

By how much can concentrated detergent packaging reduce material use compared to original bottles?

Up to $45\,\%$

Compare the packaging needed for detergent refill bags versus bottles in transit.

Refill bags require about $80\,\%$ less packaging in transit than bottles.

What is the material ratio of KeepCups to standard disposable cups and lids?

Twenty standard disposable cups and lids contain enough polymer to create one KeepCup.

How many disposable cups are manufactured globally every year?

$$500\,\text{billion}$$

What is the predicted annual reduction in disposable cup use in Taiwan due to the reusable cup discount rule?

A $30\,\%$ reduction, or $450\,\text{million cups}$.

What polymer is the KeepCup made from?

$\text{PP}$ (polypropylene)

Identify one advantage of using Polypropylene (PP) for products like the KeepCup.

It is a lightweight polymer and has a relatively low melt point for energy-efficient recycling.

What is the percentage reduction in landfill waste when using a KeepCup compared to a disposable paper cup?

$$92\,\%$$

What is the advantage of 'nesting' or 'tessellating' components during CNC laser cutting?

It minimises waste products and enables maximum material use from each sheet.

What type of energy does Apple use to smelt its aluminium?

Renewable hydro-electricity.

How are sprues from the injection moulding process handled sustainably?

They are pelletised and put back into the hopper for the next moulding cycle.

What environmental measures did the Smartville factory introduce?

Recovering waste water with its own treatment plant and using a gas-fueled heat and power generation plant for $25\,\%$ of its power.

Define 'product miles'.

The total lifetime distance that a product is transported from its place of production to the place of use by the consumer.

What is a 'linear economy'?

A 'take, make, dispose' model where raw materials are extracted, made into products, and then disposed of in landfill.

What is the aim of a 'circular economy'?

To use materials in a way that ensures a continual cycle of reuse and remanufacture without utilizing wasteful resources or landfill.

Contrast 'cradle-to-cradle' and 'cradle-to-grave' design approaches.

Cradle-to-grave is the traditional linear approach ending in disposal; cradle-to-cradle designs products to be made again using renewable energy.

What are 'biological nutrients' in a circular economy?

Organic non-toxic materials that can be composted and safely re-enter ecosystems, like plant-based detergents.

What are 'technical nutrients' in a circular economy?

Man-made materials like polymers and alloys designed to be used repeatedly at high quality with minimal energy.

In the circular economy, what does it mean to 'optimise resource yields'?

Designing for refurbishment, effective disassembly, remanufacture, reuse, and recycling to keep resources at high value.

Name the renewable energy system that uses turbines driven by dams trapping water.

Hydro

Name the renewable energy system that converts the sun's energy directly into electricity.

Solar photovoltaic (solar PV)

Name the renewable energy system that uses natural heat from the Earth to produce steam.

Geothermal

What is the major disadvantage of renewable energy related to weather?

The supply is often unreliable or inconsistent if weather conditions like wind, rain, or sunshine are not present.

Which gas is specifically mentioned as a contributor to global warming that trees help remove?

$$\text{CO}_{2}$$

What does the 'Mobius Loop' symbol represent on consumer products?

It is a commonly seen symbol indicating that the product is capable of being recycled.