2.5 Green Design

• Green Design and Eco-design differences

  Their differences stem from timescale (length of time it takes to implement a design change) and complexity.

  Long and short timescales are relative and typically determined by the complexity of the technological change being implemented.

  Incremental solutions (simpler and smaller nature) are implemented on relatively short timescales.

  Radical solutions (complex) are typically implemented on longer timescales.
• Green-Design

  Focus is on the re-engineering of a design to reduce its environmental impact and increase its sustainability. 

  It focuses on making changes that are typically incremental in nature: switching to a recyclable material, reducing energy in manufacturing or use, increasing durability of the product.

  Typically focuses on one or two environmental objectives, such as switching to sustainable materials or reducing energy usage.

  • Short timescale
  • Incremental changes (small changes over time)
  • Low risk
• Eco-Design


  It is a more complex approach to sustainability.

  Think "ecology": The design fits into a system. 

  Ex. Cradle-to-Cradle design (C2C), Circular Economies, etc.

  More than using green materials but also it considers the entire lifecycle of the product and its impacts.

  • Long timescale
  • Great complexity
  • High risk
• Principles guiding designers

  The Prevention Principle: The avoidance or minimization of waste production

  The Precautionary Principle: The anticipation of potential problems.
• The Prevention Principle


  The avoidance or minimization of waste production

  Designers should endeavor to avoid or minimize waste in all its forms with regards to the production, use, and disposal of the product.

  Designers should make decisions in the design process that strive to meet this principal
• The Precautionary Principle: The anticipation of potential problems.


  Designers should anticipate problems related to the production, use and disposal of their product and take measures to mitigate or eliminate them.

  In other words, designers should think ahead, inquire, predict any negative environmental impacts of their designs—we cannot be complacent.
• Objectives for Green Design

  • Materials
  • increasing the efficient use by reducing quantity required
  • selecting non-toxic and environmentally friendly
  • minimizing the number of different materials used
  • labelling so they can be easily identified for recycling and disposal
  • Energy
  • reducing the amount required to manufacture or use a product
  • switching to sustainable or renewable sources 
  • Pollution and Waste
  • reducing the negative impacts of manufacturing
  • considering the end-of-life of the product and designing to maximize sustainability goals
  • improving the durability to prolong duration