2.12 Responsible Design

Question 1

Carbon footprint

Answer 1

The total amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of an individual, a community or an organisation

Question 2

Sustainable development

Answer 2

In 1987 this concept was introduced by the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission)

Development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Has three strands:

     - Economic
     - Social
     - Environmental

Question 3

Primary carbon footprint

Answer 3

Measures direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels, including transport and domestic energy consumption

Question 4

Secondary carbon footprint

Answer 4

The secondary footprint is the sum of indirect emissions associated with the manufacture and breakdown of all products, services and food an individual or business consumes.

Question 5

Environmental considerations of designers

Answer 5

• Designers have the responsibility to design products that have minimal environmental impact they must consider:
• How to conserve materials and energy
• How to make products that are as sustainable and as environmentally friendly as possible
• Primary and secondary carbon footprint
• Product miles

Question 6

Sustainable development - Economic

Answer 6

Materials choice:
- cost of materials especially when they are finite
Processing implications:
- energy cost and costs of dealing with potential pollution.
Manufacturing:
- cost of ensuring good working conditions

Question 7

Sustainable development - Social

Answer 7

Processing implications:
- such as pollution and the impact on people’s health
Manufacturing:
- such as working conditions

Question 8

Sustainable development - Environmental

Answer 8

Material choice: 
          - such as the use of finite resources, how the material is obtained, and end    
          of product life recycling
Processing and manufacture:
          - energy use and pollution

Question 9

Reducing the environmental impact of packaging

Answer 9

• Making the packaging lightweight - reduced the material
• Using recycled content
• Making the packaging recyclable or reusable
• Use of refills and concentrates
• Using minimal packaging material
• Charging for items such as supermarket carrier bags

Question 10

State two advantages of renewable energy

Answer 10

• Sustainable - won’t run out
• Renewable energy facilities generally require less maintenance than traditional generators
• Fuel derived from natural resources reduces operational costs
• Little or no environmental pollutants produced
• Social and economic benefits - projects can bring benefits through employment and use of local services to an area

Question 11

State two disadvantages of renewable energy

Answer 11

• An be difficult to generate the large quantities of energy produced by traditional fossil fuel generators
• Often reliant on weather - potentially unreliable or inconsistent energy production
• Cannot be stored in larger quantities for later use due to the impracticalities of having power plant back-ups
• Currently more expensive than fossil fuel or nuclear

Question 12

Circular economy

Answer 12

An approach that anticipates and designs for biological and technical nutrients to be continuously reused at the same quality, dramatically reducing the dependency on sourcing new materials

Cradle-to-cradle approach in a product life cycle rather than a traditional cradle-to-grave

Question 13

Biological nutrients

Answer 13

Organic, non-toxic materials that can be composted and safely re-enter ecosystems without harming the natural environment

E.g. Products made from wood that can naturally degrade to provide compost or nutrients to the ground

Question 14

Technical nutrients

Answer 14

Man-made materials designed to be used repeatedly at the same initial high quality with minimal energy and adverse environmental effects

E.g. Polymers and alloys

Question 15

A circular economy will …..

Answer 15

• Work against the unsustainable ‘take, make, dispose’ culture
• Promote and drive greater resource productivity
• Reduce the use of finite resources
• Reduce waste
• Avoid pollution
• Deliver a more competitive UK economy
• Help reduce the environmental impact of our product manufacture and consumption in

Question 16

Examples of reducing the environmental impact of packaging

Answer 16

Marks and Spencer pizza packaging:
- reduced by 62% du to a redesign

KeepCup:
- reusable coffee cup designed for use within barista machines to reduce
the environmental impact caused by disposable cups