Sustainable Consumption

  

With electronics considered to be the most disposable, replaceable and fastest to become obsolete, consumers regularly purchase "upgrades" or new models of their existing electronic devices. In the computer industry, new "faster" processors are released every 18 months, therefore influencing the consumers purchase patterns relevant to these new releases. We buy a new one, through the old one out, the cycle continues. There needs to be a change. Emphasis needs to be put on the longevity of a product rather than the quick buck it can make.

"Our concept of eco-effectiveness means working on the right things...on the right products and services and systems...instead of making the wrong things less bad."

Another important issue to consider is should we believe what these big corporations are telling us about the cleanliness or friendliness of their products. Are consumers aware of what they are purchasing?  If consumers have a better understanding and potentially a better education in what they buy, maybe they would choose something else, or not buy the product at all. Are these big brands lying to us or simply marketing in a clever way?

ECOREDESIGN

The Product 

Disassembly

Manufacture 

Transport

Life

 

End of life

 Results

RECYCLING

After recently travelling to Germany I have been able to witness the recycling efforts first hand. On most street corners there are large recycling deposits for aluminium, glass and plastics. At every train station you find four different bins suited to general waste, metals, plastics and glass. It is evident that this system is extremely successful not only as near all German people religiously recycle but to the clean and rubbish free nature of their cities.

Although recycling may seem to be the answer, I think there are other ways we can aid our environment.    

The question as a designer is how can we design solutions to be better suited to a reusable process rather than a recycling process. It is most important to understand the means in which specific materials can be recycled and processed to be re-created into a new product, but, it is even more important to be educated on the resources and energy required to undertake this recycling process. If a solution can be designed to cater to not only its primary function but to be re-used to perform a secondary function, success has been achieved.

"To eliminate the concept of waste means to design things... products, packaging, and systems... from the very beginning on the understanding that waste does not exist." M. Braungart W.McDonough Cradle to Cradle

My Carbon Footprint

8.48 Earths, Wow. A little more than I expected, but still understandable. My household uses power efficient globes, water saving shower heads and recycles religiously yet still produce a high footprint. Why? I believe It's due to our methods of transport. We have 4 cars (and one motorbike) and drive a large amount of kilometers everyday. Living in Australia proves difficult to travel green and efficiently. The public transport system is slow, time inefficient and un-accessible  in many areas. As an example, It takes me 45 minutes on average to travel to University buy car, if I was to catch public transport my journey would take close to 2 hours. A long journey on a crowded and hot train is defiantly less appealing than an air conditioned car.

I believe this issue would prove common to many Australians. Being such an open and expansive country, many people opt for mid to large sized vehicles to commute due to comfort, accessibility and ease of driving on Australia's open roads.

Maybe with better public transport implementation our ways will change!?