Sustainability Design Principles

Sustainability Design Principles

Learning Objectives

  • Understand sustainable design principles.

  • Recognize benefits of adhering to these principles.

  • Comprehend life cycle thinking and life cycle assessment.

Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • Overview of PAN-Canadian Framework addressing climate change and emphasizing sustainable development goals:

    • End poverty and hunger.

    • Ensure good health and well-being.

    • Quality education and gender equality.

    • Promote clean water and sanitation.

    • Decent work and economic growth.

    • Sustainable cities and communities.

    • Responsible consumption and production.

    • Climate action, partnerships for the goals.

Key Concepts in Sustainability

Technology and Stakeholders

  • Importance of engagement with stakeholders in sustainability initiatives.

  • Areas of focus include:

    • Renewable energies

    • Social responsibility and corporate responsibility

    • Green buildings and urban agriculture

    • Ecological footprint and biodiversity

    • Public transportation.

Sustainability Principles

  • Use non-toxic, sustainably produced, or recycled materials; companies like L'Oréal aim for 100% renewable resources by 2020.

  • Energy efficiency in processes and passive building designs (e.g., TELUS Garden).

  • Design longer-lasting products promoting reuse and recycling.

Life Cycle Thinking (LCT)

  • LCT considers all stages of a product's life cycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal.

  • Encourages choices that lessen environmental impacts.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

  • LCA evaluates environmental burdens associated with a product throughout its life cycle.

  • Key areas LCA assesses:

    • Resource depletion

    • Climate change impacts

    • Human health.

Benefits of Adhering to Sustainability Principles

Risk Management

  • Sustainable practices help manage risks and improve farmer resilience against climate volatility.

  • Example: Rainforest Alliance certification helps farmers manage land and climate risks.

Innovation and Financial Performance

  • Companies like 3M and Nike have leveraged sustainability for innovation and operational efficiency.

  • Financial benefits from sustainability practices include cost savings and market opportunities;

    • Example: Dow's investments in resource efficiency resulting in savings of billions.

    • IKEA's sustainable product lines generating significant revenue.

Positive and Negative Effects

  • Increasing positive effects:

    • Quality of life

    • Sustainability awareness

  • Reducing negative effects:

    • Resource overuse

    • Waste generation

Conclusion

  • Emphasis on changing perspectives to effectuate change in practices.

  • Importance of personal responsibility in reducing environmental footprints and increasing sustainable impacts.