Final Blog!

Final Blog!

Being socially responsible through design is equally as important as being environmentally responsible. According to the Fuad Luke reading, design activism involves using product design as a way to address social issues in our word. It would be great if we, as a society of over-consumers, were able to address both problems (social and environmental) with a singular solution. In the United States, we have a problem with over-consumption. Everybody has way more “stuff” than is necessary for meeting basic everyday needs. We have an outfit for every occasion, 20 pairs of shoes, and accessories galore. Meanwhile, people in other countries are glad to have any piece of clothing that will keep them warm, and just one pair of shoes so they can walk to school or work without hurting their feet or contracting diseases.

Because we are in the position that we are as a country, we have a responsibility to help those less fortunate. However, we don’t want to provide them with products that will harm their environment either. To solve this issue, we first need to focus on implementing Cradle to Cradle practices in our society by keeping our biological and technical resources separate. We can accomplish this by producing clothes and shoes that are 100% cotton or other natural, biodegradable products. When we grow tired of these products, we can then send these clothes and shoes to countries that need them. When the products finally lose all of their function and need to be discarded, they can be used as nutritional resources and fed back into the earth. This way, we are able to provide clothing for those in under-consuming countries while also providing nutritional resources for the earth.

In summation of this course, I would like to say that I have learned a great deal about the problems facing our world and some of the solutions that are being implemented. Of all these things, the most important thing that I learned was that I, as a designer, have a very important role in making sure that sustainable practices are being used in my industry. I can use this knowledge to specify the best products and keep sustainability in mind when selecting textiles for interior applications. I am very interested in learning more about Cradle to Cradle implementations in the industry. As of right now, I feel that Steelcase, in partnering with the Cradle to Cradle founders to develop new products, is one of the leading commercial furniture companies when it comes to truly sustainable options.

No More Blends!

No More Blends!

According to the Cradle to Cradle reading, the most important aspect of maintaining a closed-loop product is to ensure that biological nutrients remain separate from technical nutrients. Biological nutrients would be classified as products that are biodegradable and can return to the earth as a source of nourishment. In order for this to be achieved, the biological nutrient must not be contaminated with chemicals (such as dyes) or synthetic materials (as found in a blended fiber product). Likewise, in order for technical nutrients to return to the technical metabolism as a “food” source, it must not be contaminated with biological nutrients.

Blended textiles are very popular in current times because of the benefits associated with being able to blend the properties of these fibers. For example, a cotton/polyester blend is very popular in t-shirts because the cotton is soft, breathable, and comfortable while the polyester provides durability. However, a cotton/polyester blended t-shirt cannot be disposed of safely into the earth. Likewise, the polyester cannot be retrieved out of the shirt to be reused in other synthetic applications.

In order for Cradle to Cradle to truly take hold in the textile industry, we need to focus on keeping these two “food” sources separate. One way to approach this is from a regulatory standpoint. If it were considered hazardous or illegal to cross-contaminate biological and technical resources, companies would be forced to redesign their products to be true to the appropriate metabolism. This could be determined in a similar fashion to how health and safety inspections are done in food establishments and commercial areas. There would be a “rating” system that would be implemented to allow consumers to be aware of how the company is performing. If the company is performing exceptionally poor, there may even be consequences as harsh as a shut-down until the issues are addressed. Heath department inspections already carry this weight and have the power to shut-down a business due to failing such an inspection. If companies are putting the health of the consumer as risk by practicing irresponsible manufacturing methods and creating environmentally unhealthy products, then the consequences should match the offense.

By rethinking the way that we view sustainability, and shaping policies accordingly, we can really begin to see widespread changes in the way we handle day to day operations. Unsustainable production methods are a health concern. The health of the environment and the health of the people are both as stake when companies fail to use sustainable closed-loop design and production practices. This is why we should implement an inspections and rating system for production and manufacturing.

Read the Instructions!

Read the Instructions!

When you buy a new product for your home, it typically comes with all kinds of paperwork. Warranty information, warnings, and assembly instructions are just a few examples of the literature that can be involved in such a purchase. What if there was a more useful piece of paper in that stack? One that tells you exactly what your new product is made of, and a diagram showing you what parts are made of what materials. This way, when you are through with the product, you can easily separate the product down into easily recyclable parts.

This idea is based on the concept discussed in the Cradle 2 Cradle reading that we need to keep biological nutrients separate from technical nutrients. Biological nutrients are those that can become food for the earth. This includes biodegradable products. Technical nutrients are those that are valuable in becoming “food” in the technical cycle (or metabolism). Metals, plastics and chemicals are some examples of technical nutrients. When we mix biological and technical nutrients, we make it impossible to use them past a single use of a product. One we combine these materials, we cannot separate them back out and upcycle them into more products or use them as fertilizer for the earth.

Steelcase is a company that has really been incorporating Cradle 2 Cradle in its product development. For example, the Think chair is up to 98% recyclable and made of up to 37% recycled materials according to the Steelcase Think product brochure. In addition to being highly recyclable, Steelcase has designed the Think chair to be very easily dismantled using ordinary tools. This allows for a quick and easy recycling process after a consumer is through using the chair. Another aspect of Cradle 2 Cradle that Steelcase Is implementing is the use of high quality environmentally responsible textile products. They worked with Rhoener, as discussed in the video, to develop a product with a closed-loop life-cycle. This means that the product does not produce waste. It produces more food and nutrients that can be biodegraded and the production process also eliminates hazardous toxic waste as well, leaving water supplies as clean or cleaner than before the processing.

Recycling can be an intimidating procedure for many people. What plastics go where, colored glass is separated from clear glass and certain metals get separated from other metals. All these ”rules” for recycling can be so daunting that people decide to pass up the whole concept and opt to just toss things in the trash. In order to make the recycling process as easy as possible for consumers, easily dismantled products along with a diagram showing the materials make-up of the product will help guide consumers in the process and make them feel as though they know exactly what they are doing when it comes to contributing to the upcycling of their products.

Think Chair Brochure:
http://www.steelcase.com/en/products/category/seating/task/think/documents/think_brochure.pdf