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Designing Products for A Sustainable Future

Preserving the health and longevity of the planet is our collective responsibility, and the looming global issue of climate change has prompted consumers and manufacturers alike to take more of an interest in product sustainability. However, one startling statistic reveals that nearly 80% of the ecological impacts of a product stem from its design phase 1, so when designing a new product, it is absolutely essential to consider what impact it will have on the environment throughout its entire lifecycle, including:

    Design
    Manufacturing
    Transportation
    Use
    Disposal
During each of these stages, the product will inevitably use up precious resources, such as energy and water, and produce some form of waste. However, with careful design consideration, these can be limited to reduce the strain on the environment. Here are a few things to consider when designing a product for sustainability:

Use Sustainable Materials

As far as possible, consider using sustainable materials in your product design that take into account the following:

    Recyclability: Using a minimal number of materials for your product can improve its recyclability. Alternatively, design a product that includes already recycled content, i.e., Innocent Drinks bottles are made from 50% recycled plastics and 15% plant plastics 2.

    Packaging: Think about ways to minimise the amount of packaging used in your product. Even a small change can make a big difference overall, i.e., ASOS modified their plastic mailer bags to have a reduced thickness, resulting in 583 tonnes of plastic saved each year 3.

    Transport Efficiency: Transport has the highest reliance on fossil fuels of any sector and is a major contributor to global warming. Designing a product that is as space efficient and lightweight as possible can reduce the size and number of vehicles needed to transport it, i.e., interlocking packaging so that more products can stack together. Sourcing materials for your product locally can also reduce the amount of transport that is required to manufacture it.

Design for Durability

Long-lasting products means less replacements and repairs will be needed throughout its life span, so use quality materials as much as possible when designing your product. Not only will this result in a higher-value product that can be sold for an increased price, but it will also save consumers money in the long run and build trust in your brand.

Historically, many manufacturers have been guilty of what is called ‘planned obsolescence’, or designing a product that is made to be replaced after a certain amount of time. And while this might seem like a good profit strategy, a business is more likely to gain customer loyalty and retention by selling quality products that are made to last.

Consider the Social Impact

A sustainable product should not only benefit the environment, but also take into account the social impact that it has, particularly in the manufacturing stage. Consumers today are more socially conscious and are therefore more likely to purchase your product if it was manufactured using fair labour practices. In a survey by Deloitte 4, an increasing number of customers were shown to have stopped purchasing certain brands and products due to ethical or sustainability related concerns.

Think About the Product’s Disposal

A product’s life span includes its end-of-life treatment. What will happen to your product once it has been disposed of? Can it be easily recycled, or will it likely end up in a landfill? Think about ways to improve the recyclability or biodegradability of your product, including easy disassembly, clear customer instructions on how to dispose of it responsibly or ideas on how it can be repurposed or reused.

Resources:
1.) joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/scientific-activities-z/sustainable-product-policyen
2.) innocentdrinks.co.uk/things-we-do-for-the-planet/recycling-activists
3.) asos.com/our-packaging-explained/
4.) deloitte.com/sustainable-consumer

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First published on 31/03/23

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