Paper Two: Environmental issues

Question 1

How was sustainable development introduced

Answer 1

• in 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Developmen introduced this concept
• it was defined as ‘development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’

Question 2

What three strands of sustainable development must be considered when designing and manufacturing

Answer 2

• economic
• social
• environmental

Question 3

ways the designer/manufacturer can reduce environmental impact of a product: REDUCE

Answer 3

• cut down amount of material & energy
• eg water bottle- uses as little material as possible while still maintaining strength

Question 4

ways the designer/manufacturer can reduce environmental impact of a product: REUSE

Answer 4

• reuse products for the same/different use at the end of life
• eg glass coffee jars can be used again with refill packs

Question 5

ways the designer/manufacturer can reduce environmental impact of a product: RECYCLE

Answer 5

• convert waste products into new materials
  PRIMARY: using functioning secondhand products (eg charity shops etc)
  SECONDARY: materials recycled into different products (eg boat sails > bean bags/sailing jackets)
  TERTIARY: completely breaking down product and reformulating it using chemical process (eg water bottle > fleece)

Question 6

ways the designer/manufacturer can reduce environmental impact of a product: REPAIR

Answer 6

• fix a product when it breaks rather than discarding (eg repairing a puncture)

Question 7

ways the designer/manufacturer can reduce environmental impact of a product: REFUSE

Answer 7

• consumer choice of whether or not to buy a product or not
• eg considering whether it has been made sustainably & ethically or not, refusing less efficient white goods- fridge, dishwasher, etc

Question 8

ways the designer/manufacturer can reduce environmental impact of a product: RETHINK

Answer 8

• rethink the way products are designed & manufactured to be more efficient
• eg using SMAs to aid disassembly

Question 9

primary carbon footprint (definition)

Answer 9

measures direct CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels. Includes transport & domestic energy

Question 10

secondary carbon footprint (definition)

Answer 10

measures indirect CO2 from products used

Question 11

Economic sustainable development

Answer 11

• materials choice-such as the cost, use of finite resources and obtaining the original source
• processing implications-energy cost, costs associated with dealing with potential pollution
• manufacturing-cost of ensuring good working conditions for those involved in the manufacturing process

Question 12

Social sustainable development

Answer 12

• processing implications-pollution and the impact on people’s health
• manufacturing-working conditions for those involved in the manufacturing process

Question 13

Environmental sustainable development

Answer 13

• material choice-use of finitre resources and end of product life recycling
• processing implications-energy use and initial source and pollution

Question 14

Designers and manufacturers need to consider factors that use the optimum amount of packaging to protect/preserve products and prevent waste. What are some examples of these factors

Answer 14

• making the packaging lightweight
• using recycled content
• making the packaging recyclable or reusable
• the use of refills and concentrates
• using minimal packaging material
• charging for items-supermarket bags

Question 15

Example of product that has been designed to reduce the environmental impact

Answer 15

• KeepCup- a reusable coffee cup
• designed to reduced environmental impact caused by disposable cups
• 20 disposable cups and lids=enough polymer for one KeepCup

Question 16

Example of packaging thet has been redesigned for sustanability

Answer 16

• Marks and Spencer pizza packaging
• redesign reduced packaging by 62%