Key points
- Recycling is important for protecting the environment, saving resources, and reducing waste.
- Designing products to be recyclable allows materials to be reused.
- Thoughtful design can also reduce waste and make products last longer through easy maintenance and repair.
- However, some products are made with built-in obsolescence, leading to more waste and frequent replacements.
What's the impact of recycling and sustainable design?
| Resource conservation | Recycling conserves natural resources by reducing the need for raw materials, helping to protect ecosystems and biodiversity. | Aluminium Cans - Recycling aluminium cans saves 95% of the energy required to produce new cans from raw materials. |
| Energy savings | Recycling lowers energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to producing new products from virgin materials, contributing to climate change mitigation. | Plastic Bottles - Recycling PET plastic bottles into new bottles consumes 30% less energy than making them from virgin materials, significantly reducing carbon emissions. |
| Recyclable design | Products designed for easy disassembly and made from recyclable materials enhance recycling rates, making it easier for consumers to recycle effectively. | For example: Flatpack Furniture - Many products are designed for easy disassembly, allowing users to recycle parts like wood and metal instead of sending the entire item to landfill. |
| Waste reduction | Eco friendly product design can extend the lifespan of items, reducing waste generation and the frequency of disposal. | Modular Phones - Some companies design modular smartphones that can be easily repaired or upgraded, extending the product's lifespan and reducing electronic waste. |
| Sustainability promotion | Emphasising recycling and thoughtful product design contributes to a more sustainable environment by conserving resources and minimising waste. | Recycled Paper Products - Products made from recycled paper, such as notebooks and packaging, help reduce the demand for virgin pulp, conserving forests and promoting sustainable resource management. |
Reduce, Reuse, Restore!
How product design can reduce waste
Effective product design can significantly reduce waste and conserve resources. By creating products that can be easily repaired or upgraded, minimising packaging materials, and using recycled materials, designers can make a substantial impact on reducing environmental waste and promoting sustainability.
Design methods
| Modular design | Products made in separate parts that can be replaced or repaired without discarding the entire item. | For example: Fairphone, where individual components like the camera or battery can be upgraded, reducing waste. |
| Minimalist packaging | Reducing excess packaging materials helps to conserve resources. | For example: Apple reduced plastic and made their iPhone boxes smaller, using fewer materials and improving transport efficiency. |
| Use of recycled materials | Incorporating recycled materials reduces the need for new resources. | For example: Adidas Parley Shoes, made from recycled ocean plastic, cutting down on waste and pollution. |
| Efficient manufacturing | Using advanced techniques like 3D printing can create products with less excess material. | 3D printed prosthetics are made layer by layer, using only the material needed. |
How can products be designed for easy maintenance and repair?
Designing products that are easy to maintain and repair helps extend their lifespan and reduces waste.
Accessible screws and parts
Using standard screws and easy to access components makes it easier to disassemble and fix products.
Repair manuals and instructions
Providing detailed guides or resources to help users fix products.
Use of durable materials
Using long lasting materials reduces the frequency of repairs needed. For example, Dyson vacuum cleaners are designed to be robust and come with detailed instructions for maintenance.
Software updates for electronics
For tech products, providing regular software updates can extend their functional lifespan without needing new hardware. These updates can fix bugs, introduce new features, and improve performance. Examples include Microsoft, Tesla and Samsung.
What is built in obsolescence?
Obsolete means something is no longer useful or needed because it has been replaced by something newer or better. For example, old phones can become obsolete when new models with more advanced features come out.
Built in obsolescence is when products are intentionally designed to have a limited lifespan, causing them to become outdated or nonfunctional after a certain period. This encourages consumers to replace them with newer versions.
- Smartphones – slow down over time or stop getting updates, making new ones more appealing
- Game consoles – newer models with better graphics or exclusive games push you to upgrade
- Earbuds – batteries often wear out after a year or two and they're hard to replace
- Laptops – batteries degrade and older models struggle with new apps and games
- Trainers – fashion trends change quickly, encouraging frequent purchases
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