1. DT Sustainability Examination Revision Material

2. What is Recycling? The conversion of waste products into new materials e.g. glass bottles are sorted into colours, crushed, melted down and reformed into glass products. To extend the life of a product by giving it to someone else to make use of instead of throwing it away e.g. clothing, furniture.

3. What can you recycle at home? Paper Cardboard Glass PET bottles Aluminium cans Tin plate cans Tetrapack - juice cartons

4. What is Primary Recycling? The second hand use of items. Charity shops stock a large selection.

5. What is Secondary Recycling? Waste materials are recycled into new products e.g. card and paper packaging recycled into new paper and card products.

6. What is Tertiary or Chemical Recycling? The process by which waste materials are broken down and reformulated into different products e.g. PET bottles made into fleece clothing.

8. What are Plastic made from? Plastic is made from fossil fuel (approximately 30% oil and 70% natural gas), a non-renewable resource. There are many different types of plastic on the market. Look at the bottom of plastic containers for one of the symbols. This symbol indicates the type of plastic that was used to make the container e.g. PS (Polystyrene), LDPE and HDPE are low and high density polyethylene).

9. Newspaper, white paper, mixed paper, cardboard, and telephone books can be recycled. White paper is the most valuable because of its quality and versatility. The process for creating new products from recycled paper is explained here: The paper is separated by type/grade. The separated paper is then put into a large vat (similar to a giant kitchen mixer) and mixed with water creating a product called "slurry". The slurry is spread on racks and big rollers push all the water out. Once dry, the paper is then rolled up for later cutting into whatever size is needed for the new product. The slurry is also the basis for paperboard (used for cereal boxes, etc.), corrugated cardboard, telephone books, and newsprint. By adding wood or cotton fibres the slurry is turned into office-grade paper. Unlike glass or steel, paper degrades each time it is recycled. For this reason, not all recycled paper goes directly to manufacturers to make more paper. Some of it is used to create insulation, animal bedding or in composting. Here is an overview how paper-recycling works: How is Paper Recycled?

10. Metal containers can be made from recycled steel or aluminium. Recycling metal containers is environmentally friendly and easy. The recycler separates the aluminium from the steel cans by using an industrial sized magnet to pick up the steel cans. The separated cans are crushed, baled together, and sent on to the appropriate mill. At the mill the cans are exposed to high heat and melted down. The resulting material is used to make more products from steel or aluminium. When one ton of steel is recycled, 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone are conserved. Using recycled aluminium to make aluminium cans saves 95% of the energy compared to producing aluminium cans from ore. Here is an overview how aluminium recycling works: How are Metal Containers Recycled?

11. How is Glass Recycled? Glass is made from sand, soda ash and lime stone. You buy something in a glass bottle or jar. You wash your empty bottles and jars and sort them by colour for recycling. You put your glass bottles and jars in your recycling box at home, if not you can take them to a bottle bank for recycling. The bottles and jars are driven to a factory to be recycled. Each colour of glass is recycled separately. Any small pieces of metal, cork or plastic are removed and the glass is crushed into small pieces called "cullet". The glass is melted in a furnace at very high temperatures. The melted glass is shaped into new jars and bottles, which are taken to a factory to be filled with food or drink.

12. Why Do We Recycle? Everything we dispose of has to go somewhere. Rubbish dumps all over the world are rapidly filling up. Our concerns for the environment is growing. Some resources are running out i.e. are non-renewable e.g. oil

13. Rethink How can designers help the environment? Make products more energy efficient. Design for disassembly and make it easier to take apart and recycle. Choose more environmentally friendly materials. Use less materials to do the job. Reduce packaging.

14. Reduce How can a designer reduce the amount of materials used? Consider which parts are not needed. Can less materials be used by changing the design e.g. less packaging Can the product be simplified e.g. less material varieties used. Example refill not replace ink cartridges.

15. Repair Give examples of products that can be repaired? Shoes can be re-heeled. Car parts can be replaced e.g. tyres, exhausts and brake pads. Clothes can be mended e.g. hems sown back, holes and splits seems repaired. Electronic goods can have parts replaced.

16. Reuse Give example of products that can be reused? Electrical items: Most electrical equipment can be reused or broken down into parts. If the electrical equipment is still in full working order, sell it in a car boot sale or donate it to a charity shop. Contact your retailer as they may take back old products. Some councils accept electrical equipment at their waste recycling centres. Always try to repair items rather than throwing them away, others may find use for the item when you no longer want it. Try to buy electrical items that have a long life span. Furniture: Donate usable furniture to charity shops, schools, community centres, friends or neighbours. Sell furniture at garage sales or in auctions. Clean and repair broken furniture before you sell/donate it. Before you sell/donate your furniture, make sure it has the kite mark of approval to show that it meets British safety standards. Mobile Phones: Most people in the UK now own a mobile phone and they can be recycled. Donate old mobile phones to friends or family. Many manufacturers take back old mobile phones for recycling. Some companies have set up mobile phone recycling schemes.

17. Why are we a throw away society? It is often quicker and easier to throw something away rather than repair it. Manufacturers encourage customers to repurchase rather than repair.

18. What is meant by Planned or Built - in Obsolescence? A product is designed to last a set period of time. The functions of the product are designed to fail or wear out after a certain time limit. The customer is then expected to purchase again. E.g. Clothing, light bulbs, electronic goods made with cheaper components.

19. Refuse When should we refuse to use or buy certain products? Products unnecessarily made from man-made sources rather than natural sources. Products using toxic chemicals. Products made without proper safety regulations. Poor working conditions for employees in manufacturing e.g. long hours, poor wages. Workers with no rights e.g. slave labour in sweat shops. Manufacturers or farmers not given a fair price for their goods and services. Large distances needed to transport. Products that are difficult to break down or recycle.

20. What is meant by Carbon Footprint? The actions of individuals, companies and nations as a whole are all generating carbon emissions, which are linked to the climate change crisis the planet is facing.

21. What is Carbon Offsetting? Each of our everyday actions consumes energy and produces carbon dioxide emissions e.g. taking holiday flights, driving our cars, heating or cooling our homes and offices. Carbon Offsets can be used to compensate for the emissions produced by funding an equivalent carbon dioxide saving somewhere else. E.g. Funding tree planting The Big Tree Plant The Big Tree Plant is a campaign to encourage people and communities to plant more trees in England.

22. What is Sustainable design? A way of designing that has a positive impact on everyone. Ensures materials are replenished e.g. trees are replanted when some are cut down in a managed forest. Restocking of existing forests and woodland is known as Reforestation. Uses eco-friendly materials to reduce impact. Use alternative energy to power products instead of using fossil fuels. Ensures future generations have resources left to use.

23. Non –Renewable Energy What energy sources are non-renewable? Oil Coal Gas These resources will eventually run out

24. Renewable Energy What types of energy are renewable? Wind power Solar power Hydro power Tidal/Wave power Geothermal Further research – look into these energy sources and find out their advantages and disadvantages.

25. Environmental Issues What environmental issues do designers need to think about before creating a design? Understand which materials are both suitable for the job and sustainable. Be aware of the life span of a product and think about it’s disposal and potential for recycling. Reduce the amount of harmful chemicals used that can pollute the environment e.g. bleach and chemical dyes. CFC’s, substances made of bromine and chlorine were used until 1980’s when it was discovered that they were the main source of harm to the ozone layer. Design products that minimise waste. Use manufacturing processes that are efficient and use less energy.

26. Social issues What do we mean by globalisation? We live in a global society where goods and materials can be made and obtained from anywhere in the world. Products need to be designed with different cultures and nationalities in mind. Society is multicultural and diverse so designers need to recognise the needs and views of lots of people. What are our values, expectations etc

27. Cultural Issues Many cultures have important values, traditions and skills that designers need to consider, can you think of an example?

28. Moral Issues What are moral issues concerned with? The way in which products are manufactured and how they affect the safety, comfort and well-being of the people who make them. Sweat shops that employ children and slave labour is going on in parts of the world and we should avoid buying goods where people are exploited. The ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) aims to promote good working conditions for people in manufacturing and farming e.g. safety in the workplace, fair wages and job satisfaction. Fairtrade is a non-profit organisation that licences the use of their symbol if products sold in the UK meet agreed standards. It aims to give workers a fair deal, fair price and fair wages.

29. Design Issues Now you know more about sustainability issues, what do you consider to be good design? Some ideas: Uses responsibly sourced materials e.g. from sustainable sources or from recycled waste. Makes efficient use of these materials during manufacture. Is designed with the life cycle in mind (impacts to the environment from materials used, manufacture, transport, in-use and then to disposal). Is efficient and long lasting so can be reused or repaired. Low impact on the environment during it’s life. Made in a manufacturing environment that doesn’t. The European Ecolabel is awarded to products that are considered to be eco-friendly and meet strict criteria.

30. Life Cycle Analysis of a Product

31. Examples Environmentally friendly cleaning products Bags made from sustainable bamboo and sea grass Cotton bags, recycled fabrics Hemp fabric shoes Wood products from sustainable sources Unbleached cardboard Low watt bulbs or efficient LEDS

33. Make sure you know the following key terms: Sustainability Sustainable and non-sustainable products Recycle Reuse Repair Refuse Reduce Rethink Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Recycling Eco Footprint or Carbon Footprint Carbon Offsetting Carbon Neutral and carbon Positive Built-in Obsolescence Renewable Energy Non-Renewable energy sources ETI Fairtrade Sweatshops Moral issues Cultural issues European Eco label CFC’s Reforestation Life Cycle Analysis Can you name all the symbols?