Finite (non-renewable) resources and fossil fuels are being used faster than they are naturally replaced
they cannot be synthetically reproduced
Includes coal, gas and oil
84% of our energy comes from non-renewable sources
Governments are working hard to reduce this through harnessing more non-finite energy sources
Renewable energy:
Wind, wave, solar, geothermal, tidal and biomass
Energy is used in residential, commercial, industrial situations and for transportation
Non-finite materials:
Non-finite resources include those that are unlikely to be exhausted, or those that are replaced faster than we can use them
Non-finite materials include:
Oxygen
Fresh water
Timber
Leather
Responsible design:
Production techniques that may use non-renewable energy
Toxic by-products created in manufacture
Environmental impact of mining or harvesting
The product itself or production processes may emit CO2
Powering a product may require non-renewable energy
Transportation and distribution distance
Maintenance and repair costs
Welfare of workers in the material supply chain
Recyclability at the end of a product’s lifetime
Waste disposal:
The production and consumption of resources creates waste
Impact of consumption:
When waste is liquid, toxic or radioactive chemicals can leach into the soil and water courses
Some industrial waste may be radioactive, particularly that from nuclear reactors
Ecological and social footprint:
All materials leave a footprint in terms of the impact their production and consumption has on the planet
LifeCycle Assessment:
Conducting an LCA will evaluate the environmental impact on a product
Life Cycle Assessment
A) extraction
B) production
C) distribution
D) use
E) recycling
Continuousimprovement:
Continuous improvement is an approach that seeks to continually improve and develop products, services and procedures for the better
A Japanese approach called ‘Kaizen’ (Change for better) rewards employees who suggest and develop improvements, regardless of how small they may seem
Efficientworking:
Efficient working aims to remove waste from any process
Wasted time
Over production
Wasted resources including power
Wasted activity
Digital printing technology has enabled small publishing companies to benefit from printing books on demand rather than printing and warehousing large print runs.
Globalwarming:
Primarily caused by an excess of CO2 in the atmosphere that traps heat, warming the planet
Burning fossil fuels releases CO2 from the earth
Battery power:
Battery production uses finite and dangerous metals
Proper disposal of batteries is required to prevent leaching alkalis into the environment
Impact on the environment:
Plastic microbeads in exfoliating scrubs, body washes and toothpaste
recently plastic microbeads have been found inside deep sea animals
Plastics absorb toxins and fish then eat plastics
Helping the environment:
Hydrogen fuel cells produce only water as waste
Electronic paper could replace printed paper
Eco-friendly technology:
Old technology combined with new ideas can create excellent new products
The engine has become more and more efficient with refinements and technological developments
Reducing consumption:
Digitisation and consolidation of many devices in one
Reading a book, playing a CD and taking a photo can all be done with one device, without requiring any more raw material
Devices also combine Sat Nav systems, calculators, torches, watches, alarm clocks and more