Social and ecological issues
When considering the ecological and social implications of using metal, its A resource that cannot be replaced when it is used up, such as oil, natural gas or coal. nature is the main concern. Metal 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..
To create A chemical element often used for making drinks cans., the ore A rock that can be used to make aluminium. is mined as it contains aluminium hydroxide minerals. The bauxite is A substance that has been separated from other substances is said to be purified. so that A chemical reaction with aluminium and oxygen. is produced, and the aluminium is The process of obtaining a metal from a mineral, usually by reduction or electrolysis. from this through The decomposition (breakdown) of a compound using an electric current.. Huge amounts of energy are used to extract aluminium and convert it into a usable material. Recycling it requires some energy to make it usable again, but nowhere near as much.
Whenever environmental impact is being reduced, ‘The 6 Rs’ can be called upon 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 customer.
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 metal used be reduced? Can the metal 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 metal 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 metal 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 metal is used?
- To avoid using a product to save on waste - one of the 6 Rs. - Refusing to use metal 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?
Ecological footprint
Metal ore is found in the Earth’s crust and the extraction and processing of the metal ore has an impact on the environment. The An analytical measurement of the amount of global resources used. helps designers and industry consider how the impact from mining for metal ore can be minimised. There are 6 aspects that form the ecological footprint. These are:
- Sustainability - Ore is a finite resource, which means it is A resource that cannot be replaced when it is used up, such as oil, natural gas or coal.. Recycling metals can help ensure they are available for future generations.
- Extraction and erosion of landscape - As ore is found in the Earth’s crust, extraction involves clearing the land so that mining can take place. This can lead to The cutting down of trees and forests to allow a different land use., soil erosion and loss of habitat for wildlife.
- Processing - Ore has to be removed from rocks and other minerals, which requires a lot of energy to process.
- Transportation - Ore is usually found in remote areas that have limited or no transport links. A transport infrastructure often needs to be built to allow heavy goods vehicles to transport the ore to a processing site.
- Wastage - Processing leads to a large amount of waste material that often need to be processed again before being disposed of.
- Pollution - Extraction of the ore involves the use of heavy equipment that produces noise pollution. The heavy goods vehicles used to transport the ore release carbon dioxide and other gases into the environment.
