1.11 Design for manufacturing, maintenance, repair and disposal

What are the Six R's of Sustainability?

Recycle: Convert waste into reusable material to reduce landfill waste.

Reduce: Minimise the use of resources and materials to lower environmental impact.

Refuse: Avoid products or materials that are harmful to the environment.

Repair: Fix items rather than replacing them to extend their lifespan.

Rethink: Consider how your choices impact the environment and make sustainable decisions.

Reuse: Use items multiple times instead of discarding them after a single use.

What is the benefit of Recycling?

Recycling reduces waste sent to landfills, conserves natural resources, saves energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the benefit of Reducing?

Reducing minimises resource consumption, lowers pollution, and decreases waste production, helping conserve the environment for future generations.

What is the benefit of Refusing?

Refusing harmful or non-sustainable products limits demand for environmentally damaging goods, encouraging companies to adopt greener practices.

What is the benefit of Repairing?

Repairing extends the life of products, reduces waste, saves money, and lowers the need for new raw materials.

What is the benefit of Rethinking?

Rethinking promotes sustainable design, encourages eco-friendly habits, and helps find innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact.

What is the benefit of Reusing?

Reusing items reduces waste, conserves energy and resources, and prevents unnecessary production of new materials.

What is Upcycling, and what are its benefits and examples?

Upcycling: Transforming waste materials or old products into items of higher value or quality.

Benefits: Reduces waste, conserves resources, promotes creativity, and extends the lifecycle of materials.

Examples:

- Turning old jeans into bags or cushion covers.

- Using glass bottles as decorative vases.

- Creating furniture from reclaimed wood.

Why is Maintenance important, and what are its benefits and examples?

Regular maintenance keeps products functioning efficiently and extends their lifespan.

Benefits: Reduces the need for replacements, minimizes waste, and saves resources and money.

Examples:

- Regularly servicing a car to keep it fuel-efficient.

- Cleaning and oiling tools to prevent rust.

- Replacing worn parts in appliances instead of discarding them.

What does Ease of Manufacture mean, and what are its benefits and examples?

Ease of Manufacture: Designing products that are simple and efficient to produce.

Benefits: Reduces manufacturing time, energy use, and costs while lowering environmental impact.

Examples:

- Products with fewer components, like flat-pack furniture.

- Modular designs that allow for standardized parts.

- Manufacturing processes that use less energy, like 3D printing.

What is Ease of Disassembly, and what are its benefits and examples?

Ease of Disassembly: Designing products that can be easily taken apart.

Benefits: Facilitates recycling, repair, and reuse, reducing waste and enabling efficient resource recovery.

Examples:

- Smartphones designed with removable batteries for recycling.

- Furniture that uses screws instead of glue for easier disassembly.

- Modular electronic devices with replaceable components.