{"id":13241,"date":"2022-03-09T16:29:58","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T14:29:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/?p=13241"},"modified":"2024-08-15T15:06:29","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T12:06:29","slug":"design-for-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/design-for-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Design for Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"

Design for Sustainability is an offset of the Design for X<\/a> (Design for Excellence) philosophy. DFX encompasses a wide range of methodologies to improve product design and manufacturing processes. The ‘X’ can be substituted to represent a certain aspect that is the central theme to the design and production process.<\/p>\n

Typically, product designers select focus, for instance, Design for Manufacturing (DFM)<\/a>, Design for Assembly (DFA) and Design for Reliability (DFR), and optimise those aspects of the product. Every design decision is evaluated in the light of the selected focus and relevant changes are then made taking the full life cycle of the product into account. Combining these subcategories can have an even greater effect on the final product, a great example of this is Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In this article, we shall learn about design for sustainability and discuss principles that can take us closer to achieving it.<\/p>\n

What Is Design for Sustainability?<\/h2>\n

Design for Sustainability (also sometimes known as DfS and D4S) is a subset methodology under the DFX family with its main focus on developing sustainable products. Sustainability is the judicious use of natural resources in a way that does not compromise the future generation’s ability to use them.<\/p>\n

Sustainability is an enormous topic that converges a wide variety of subjects and philosophies under its wing. All of the sustainability strategies have either one or both of the following objectives:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Use fewer resources<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Prefer eco-friendly alternatives<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These resources could mean raw materials, processes, systems, distribution methods and anything else that is necessary for a product to exist. If we take a closer look, it is clear that almost all of the resource choices for a product are affected by its design.<\/p>\n

    In other words, the design stage is the most influential in determining how a product will affect the environment<\/strong> through its raw materials, manufacture, distribution, usage, maintenance and disposal.<\/p>\n

    In fact, the Sustainable Product Policy<\/a> by the European Commission states that as much as 80% of a product’s negative impact on the environment is finalised at the design stage. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to evaluate and minimise environmental impacts at the design stage itself. Design for Sustainability helps us to carry out a critical evaluation of all the different aspects and to arrive at an environmentally sound product.<\/p>\n

    The Need for Sustainable Design<\/h2>\n

    Sustainability in production and in the use of products has become increasingly important in the past few decades. There has been a rise in awareness about the negative impacts of unchecked resource extraction and consumption since the dawn of the industrial revolution.<\/p>\n

    Such awareness can be attributed majorly to the improvement in measurement methods in recent years. These methods have allowed us to gather irreproachable data on resource depletion and environmental degradation. The numbers indicate that there is a pressing need for sustainable products so that future generations can also enjoy a high quality of life.<\/p>\n

    Without taking strong measures in favour of sustainability, we will likely run out of natural resources, many species will become extinct and the environment will be damaged irreparably. Consumers can make an environmental impact when preferring socially responsible products to minimise waste and their carbon footprint.<\/p>\n

    It is not right to shift all the responsibility to the end-user. Manufacturing companies and their designers have to take the responsibility for the environmental effects of their products and work actively on designing more sustainable products.<\/p>\n

    The Shift Towards a Circular Economy<\/h2>\n

    \"theTraditionally, the economy has followed a straight-line pattern. Resources are extracted from natural sources. They are then processed and transformed into products and shipped to consumers. After their use, they are sent to disposal sites where, except for precious metals, not much is extracted. Such a system is popularly known as the linear economy. This kind of system is highly unsustainable and needs to change.<\/p>\n

    A sustainable alternative to this system is the circular economy. The main focus of this type of economic model is to reintroduce used parts as raw materials for new products. The intent is to move from a high-waste to a high-value model. Such a system is highly resource-efficient and reduces the effect of consumer demand on the exploration, pollution, and wastage of natural resources. Models such as biomimicry, cradle-to-cradle, product service systems (PSS), 4Rs, are all strategies that can provide design features to achieve a circular economy.<\/p>\n

    The 4Rs in particular is a very effective tool in building a circular economy. It includes four principles that can be applied by almost every individual and have an exponential effect. These principles are:<\/p>\n