Continuous Improvement:
- Ongoing process of reducing environmental impact through design iterations
- Example: LED lightbulbs using 75% less energy than incandescent versions
- Example: Smart thermostats learning user patterns to optimize heating
- Lifecycle analysis used to identify improvement areas (raw materials → disposal)
Efficient Working:
- Minimising waste in production processes (energy, materials, time)
- Example: Toyota's "just-in-time" manufacturing reducing warehouse needs
- Example: 3D printing producing less material waste than subtractive methods
- Lean manufacturing principles eliminating unnecessary steps
Pollution:
- Direct and indirect contamination from production/use/disposal
- Example: Microplastics from synthetic textiles entering waterways
- Example: E-waste containing heavy metals leaching into soil
- Air pollution from manufacturing (CO₂, VOCs, particulate matter)
Global Warming:
- Greenhouse gas emissions throughout product lifecycles
- Example: Fast fashion contributing 10% of global carbon emissions
- Example: Data centers for digital products using massive electricity
- Transportation impacts (sea freight vs air freight emissions)
Positive Case Study: Interface carpet tiles using recycled fishing nets (Net-Works program)
Negative Case Study: Planned obsolescence in electronics creating waste mountains
Topic test:
Interactive flashcards: