Sustainability and ethical design - Design Technology IB Study Notes

Sustainability refers to meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. In Design Technology, this encompasses environmental, social, and economic dimensions—the triple bottom line (People, Planet, Profit).

Ethical design involves creating products that respect human rights, animal welfare, and environmental integrity throughout their lifecycle. Key principles include:

Cradle-to-Cradle Design: Products designed for complete recyclability or biodegradability, eliminating waste. Unlike cradle-to-grave (linear economy), this circular approach ensures materials cycle perpetually.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Systematic analysis of environmental impacts across five stages: extraction → manufacturing → distribution → use → disposal. Each phase consumes resources and generates emissions.

Embodied Energy: Total energy consumed during material extraction, processing, manufacturing, and transportation before product use. Aluminium has high embodied energy (155-220 MJ/kg) versus timber (2-10 MJ/kg).

Carbon Footprint: Total greenhouse gas emissions expressed as CO₂ equivalents throughout a product's lifecycle.

The 6Rs Hierarchy (most to least sustainable):

1. Rethink: Question necessity
2. Refuse: Reject unsustainable options
3. Reduce: Minimize material/energy use
4. Reuse: Extend product life
5. Repair: Fix rather than replace
6. Recycle: Process into new materials

Design for Disassembly (DfD): Creating products easily separated into pure material streams for recycling—using snap-fits rather than adhesives, labeling plastics by type.

Fair Trade ensures producers in developing countries receive fair compensation, safe working conditions, and environmental protections. Planned obsolescence (deliberately limiting product lifespan) contradicts sustainable ethics.

Memory Aid: "SusTainable = Three Ts: Today, Tomorrow, Together" (present needs, future generations, collective responsibility)

Consider Patagonia's Worn Wear program: customers trade used clothing for store credit, which Patagonia repairs and resells. This exemplifies circular economy principles—products remain in use rather than becoming waste. Their "Don't Buy This Jacket" campaign encouraged customers to refuse unnecessary purchases, prioritizing longevity over profit.

Tesla's approach demonstrates sustainability complexity. Electric vehicles eliminate tailpipe emissions (use phase), but lithium-ion battery production has substantial environmental costs (manufacturing phase). Comprehensive LCA reveals whether total lifecycle impacts outweigh fossil-fuel vehicles—the answer depends on electricity grid composition and battery recycling infrastructure.

IKEA's bamboo furniture showcases material selection ethics. Bamboo grows rapidly (3-5 years versus hardwood's 50+ years), sequesters carbon efficiently, and regenerates without replanting. However, transportation from Asia increases carbon footprint—raising questions about local versus sustainable materials.

Fairphone addresses electronics industry ethics: conflict-free minerals, modular design enabling component replacement, transparent supply chains, and fair worker wages. Conventional smartphones use coltan (often mined in conflict zones), employ workers in poor conditions, and use adhesives preventing repair—planned obsolescence maximizing profit.

Analogy: Think of sustainability like managing a bank account. Withdrawing resources faster than they regenerate (overfishing, deforestation) creates deficit. Circular economy is like recycling money within the system rather than constantly withdrawing new funds. Ethical design ensures fair distribution—not just focusing on your balance while others go bankrupt.

Biomimicry examples: Velcro (inspired by burrs), Shinkansen train nose (kingfisher beak reduces noise), sharkskin-textured swimsuits (reduced drag). Nature's 3.8 billion years of R&D provides sustainable solutions—organisms can't afford waste.