Social and ecological issues
When considering the ecological and social implications of using A polymer is a large molecule formed from many identical smaller molecules (monomers). Polymers can be natural or synthetic. Plastics are long chains of polymers., it is likely that the polymer is A resource that cannot be replaced when it is used up, such as oil, natural gas or coal.. Some polymers are plant-based, but most are derived from crude oil, which cannot be grown and is a Resource that can only be used once and is in limited supply. For example, oil is a finite resource. - there is only a certain amount within the Earth’s The outer layer of the Earth on top of the mantle.. As a tremendous amount of energy is used to convert crude oil to a polymer, it is important to consider other materials or to To use a product again rather than replacing with a new one - one of the 6 Rs. plastics already available.
Russia, Saudi Arabia and USA are the major suppliers of Mixture of hydrocarbons, mainly alkanes, formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient dead marine organisms. and because of their geographical location the crude oil or finished polymers may have to travel long distances, contributing to pollution.
Whenever environmental impact is to be reduced, ‘the 6 Rs’ can be addressed to ensure an in-depth analysis has been done. The 6 Rs can be considered by the designer, the A person or company that makes something from raw materials or from an assembly of component parts. and the In business, a consumer is a person who uses a product and may also buy it. to reduce that negative impact on the environment.
Environmental considerations for designers, and the 6 Rs
The 6 Rs
The term ‘the 6 Rs’ can be applied to the design of new products or when a product is finished with, used up or no longer wanted. Here are some questions to prompt 6 Rs thinking:
- To make decisions that decrease the amount of waste produced - one of the 6 Rs. - Can the amount of polymer used be reduced? Can the polymer be bought locally to reduce product miles?
- To use a product again rather than replacing with a new one - one of the 6 Rs. - Can the polymer be reused for another purpose once a product is finished with?
- To break down and process so a new material is produced - one of the 6 Rs. - Can the polymer be disposed of correctly so that it can be recycled?
- To change the design of a product to be more environmentally friendly - one of the 6 Rs. - Can the way a product is made be redesigned so that less or no polymer is used?
- To avoid using a product to save on waste - one of the 6 Rs. - Refusing to use a polymer could be a consideration; could a material that is sustainable be used instead?
- To fix a broken product - one of the 6 Rs. - When a product is broken, can it be repaired rather than discarded?
