Sustainability

Every product made has an impact on the environment. Designers and manufacturers need to understand this when designing and making products as they do not want to impact on the environment any further. They need to look at which parts of the product can be recycled or re-used or of the materials are from a sustainable source. What will happen to the product at the end of it's life?

Definition:
Sustainability is the ability to keep making or using a product without causing an impact or damage to the environment.

The 6 Rs

• Reduce
• Recycle
• Reuse
• Refuse
• Rethink
• Repair

Reduce

Consumers need to reduce the number of products they buy. Manufacturers need to use fewer materials in the product and less packaging. Retailers can reduce the amount of transportation they use to supply warehouses and shops.

Recycle

Products are converted back to their basic material or remade into other products. Such as glass can be crushed and melted into new bottles.

Reuse

Consumers can reuse items such as refill their printer cartridges or refill their refillable coffee cup. Designers need to consider how a product dismantles at the end of it's life so that parts can be reused.

Refuse

The consumer can choose not to buy a product that can't be reused or recycled in some way. What will happen if the consumer refuses to buy a product based on it's packaging?

Rethink

Consumers can ask:

Do I really need this? Designers need to think of what they can do to make it easier to recycle.

Repair

Designers have a responsibility to design products that can be repaired more easily.