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LeNS, the Learning Network on Sustainability: Asian-European multi-polar network for curricula development on Design for Sustainability focused on product service system innovation. Funded by the Asia-Link Programme, EuroAid, European Commission.
course:System design for sustainability
learning resource:
Life Cycle Based Eco-Design as Core Design Practice
contributors:Leyla AcarogluOrganisation for the Promotion of Environmnetal Knowedge (OPEkN)Director, Eco Innovators Melbourne, Australia
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Why should a designer care about sustainbaility?...
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
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Source: Global Footprint Network (2007) www.footprintnetwork.org
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
The mass production and consumption of goods requires the continual extraction of natural resources that has exceeded the earths carrying capacity
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Americans and Australians consume about 10 tonnes per person each year of raw materials.
US raw material consumption - 1900-1995 (Matos & Wagner)
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
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Market Research
Indentifying Product
Characteristics
Generating Product
Concepts
Refining Product
Concepts
Product Manufacture
Use End of Life Management
Raw Material
Extraction
Material Production
Develop Market Strategy
Product Marketing
Design for Environment / EcoDesign/ Life Cycle Assessment
Big Picture Sustainability Questions and Long Term Environmental Implication
Cleaner Production
Ecolabelling Consumer Information
Consumer Education
Recycling , remanufacturin
g and reuse
“
lockin”ofenvironmentalimpact Freedomto effect gross
impacts of product
70 - 80% of the total products environmental impacts are determined and ‘locked-in’ in the design phase by the
decisions made by the designer (USA EPA)
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
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2. Close the Loop Society traditionally works on a liner system with raw materials entering the cycle and wastes exiting
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
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Progressive Production System
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Designers have to power to influence how a product will be produced, used and disposed off
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
But, things are not always as simple as they appear to be....
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Which is more sustainable?
Plastic Wood BioStarch
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
3. Environmental folklore Folklore – the unwritten lore that guides us all
We make decisions (personally and professionally) based on assumptions and our folklore
But how do we know what is actually better or best?
Life Cycle Assessments have shown us that some of our assumptions are not always right (paper good – plastic bad)
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
What is the most environmentally damaging thing about a fridge?
Is it...The way it is made?The energy it uses during its lifetime?The chemicals used during manufacture?The food it contains?What happens to it when it is thrown away?
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
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Bread7.3%
Vegetables8.0%
Meat60.0%
Sof t drink5.8%
Dairy products11.1%
Beer2.0%
Wine and spirits2.4%
Running f ridge3.3% Making f ridge
0.1%
Based on typical household expenditure data from Australia Bureau of Statistics
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
How can we integrate eco-design into core design practice and reduce the impacts of our products?
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
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o Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)o A methodology for assessing the whole-of-
life implications of a producto What is life cycle assessment?o “a technique for assessing the
environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product” ISO 14040
A Life Cycle Approach
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
By understanding the environmental impacts across the life of a product, system or service, we can make decisions at the design stage that reduce these impacts across the entire life of the product.
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Leyla Acaroglu
1. Know the Life Cycle Stages Resource Extraction
Manufacture
Packaging & Transportation
Use
End of Life
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o Everything comes from nature at some stage o Mining (minerals, metals, oil,
gas, coal etc) o Farming foods (livestock, crops
require nutrients, water etc) o Harvesting natural products
(trees, seafood, coral, seaweed ect)
o Energy used to extract resources
o Pollution caused
Resource Extraction
Min in Newman, Western Australia 2007 (source: Edward Burtynsky)
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Manufacturing
o Manufacturing products as well as
o Processing raw materials into useable products such as:o Ore into steelo Oil into petrolo Trees into paper
Phone manufacturing in China 2005 (source: Edward Burtynsky)
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Packaging and Transportationo Packaging at every stage along
a products life o Transport happens at ever life
cycle stage o Different methods have different
levels of impactso For long distances cargo
ships are better the air transport
o Trains work of electricity (coal to be burnt)
o Trucks, cars, vans etc all very energy intensive
Cargo ship (source: http://www.sellwholesale.com/)
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
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Use
o Energy use during life o Consumerables o Cleaning, upgrading o Stand by timeo Maintenance serviceso Services/infrastructure
required to use (mobile phones, Tvs etc) Power socket (source: www.tuxgraphics.org)
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
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End of Lifeo Landfill, litter or recyclingo Recycling still requires
energy for re-manufacturing and collection of goods
o Preference re-use o Plastic gets a bad rap, but
can be recycled over and over again, paper can only be recycled a max of 5 times
o Biodegradable products do not degrade in landfill – they must go in a compost
Plastic toy waste in China 2004 (source: Edward Burtynsky)
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Life Cycle Thinking in Design 1. Always ask questions
a. What materials and processes have reduced negative environmental impacts?
b. How can we promote value, functionality and longevity in the product?
c. How can we reduce materials, packaging etc
• Map the life cycle impacts of your product or main material selections at the start of the design process.
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
1. Always question the need, functionality and service offered by the product
2. Understand the environmental impacts across the life of the product you are designing
3. Seek to minimise impacts across the products entire life
4. Be careful of being guided by environmental folklore
5. Design longevity into your products6. Close the production loop to reduce waste7. Design value into your products
Concluding Points
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
[Contributors’ names][Contributing university/Institution] / [Faculty/department] / [Country]
Leyla AcarogluEco Innovators, Melbourne Australia
Thank you for your time
OPEkN [email protected]