Design+Environment: A Global Guide to Designing Greener Goods
APOLOGIES FOR CROSS-POSTINGS
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the publication on 29 October 2001 of:
DESIGN + ENVIRONMENT
A Global Guide to Designing Greener Goods
Helen Lewis and John Gertsakis, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
with Tim Grant and Nicola Morelli, RMIT University, Australia
and Andrew Sweatman, Environmental and Occupational Risk Management, USA
Foreword by Graham Cavanagh-Downs, Fuji Xerox, Australia
200pp | 234 x 156mm | Paperback
ISBN 1 874719 43 8 | £19.95 US$40.00
To place an order for this title or to view the Introduction online,
please visit the Greenleaf website at:
http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/catalogue/dplusenv.htm
You can also request a review copy or inspection copy from this site - see the home page:
http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com
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THERE IS A HUGE scarcity of good, practical resources for designers and students interested in minimising the environmental impacts of products. "Design + Environment" has been specifically written to address this paucity.
The book first provides background information to help the reader understand how and why design for environment (DfE) has become so critical to design, with reference to some of the most influential writers, designers and companies in the field. Next, "Design + Environment" provides a step-by-step approach on how to approach DfE: to design a product that meets requirements for quality, cost, manufacturability and consumer appeal, while at the same time minimising environmental impacts. The first step in the process is to undertake an assessment of environmental impacts, using life-cycle assessment (LCA) or one of the many simpler tools available to help the designer. From then on, DfE becomes an integral part of the normal design process, including the development of concepts, design of prototypes, final design and development of marketing strategies.
Environmental assessment tools and strategies to reduce environmental impacts, such as the selection of appropriate materials, are then discussed. Next, some of the links between environmental problems, such as global warming, ozone depletion, water and air pollution and the everyday products we consume are considered. In order to design products with minimal environmental impact, we need to have a basic understanding of these impacts and the interactions between them.
The four subsequent chapters provide more detailed strategies and case studies for particular product groups: packaging, textiles, furniture, and electrical and electronic products. Guidelines are provided for each of the critical stages of a product's life, from the selection of raw materials through to strategies for recovery and recycling.
Finally, "Design + Environment" takes a look at some of the emerging trends in DfE that are offering us the opportunity to make a more significant reduction in environmental impacts. Both the development of more sustainable materials and technologies and the growing interest in leasing rather than selling products are examined.
"Design + Environment" is organised as a workbook rather than an academic text. It should be read once, and then used as a key reference source. This clear and informative book will prove to be invaluable to practising designers, to course directors and their students in need of a core teaching and reference text and to all those interested in learning about the tools and trends influencing green product design.
The authors have all been involved in an innovative demonstration programme called "EcoReDesign", which was developed by the Centre for Design at RMIT University with funding from the Australian government. The Centre successfully collaborated with Australian companies to improve the environmental performance of their products by following DfE principles.
CONTENTS
Foreword: Graham Cavanagh-Downs, Director, Manufacturing and Supply, Fuji Xerox Australia
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Overview
1.2 Critical players: the role of designers and product developers
1.3 What¹s in a name? Some definitions
1.4 Origins and evolution: an historical snapshot
1.5 Big sticks and carrots: the role of government regulation
1.6 The competitive edge: the greening of the market 27
1.7 Summary
Chapter 2: Managing ecodesign
2.1 Overview of the design process
2.2 Assessing environmental impacts
2.3 Researching the market
2.4 Running an ideas workshop
2.5 Selecting design strategies
2.6 Designing the product
Further reading
Chapter 3: Environmental assessment tools
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Life-cycle assessment
3.3 Streamlined life-cycle assessment
3.4 Proxy indicators
3.5 Environmental accounting
3.6 Summary
Further resources
Useful websites
Chapter 4: Ecodesign strategies
4.1 Select low-impact materials
4.2 Avoid hazardous materials
4.3 Choose cleaner production processes
4.4 Maximise energy and water efficiencies
4.5 Design for waste minimisation
Further reading
Useful websites
Appendix: hazardous materials
Chapter 5: The ecology of products
5.1 The ecological footprint
5.2 Global warming
5.3 Ozone depletion
5.4 Reduced biodiversity
5.5 Resource depletion
5.6 Water pollution
5.7 Air pollution
5.8 Land degradation
5.9 Solid waste
5.10 Acidification
Useful websites
Chapter 6: Packaging
6.1 Selecting materials
6.2 Source reduction
6.3 Looking to the future
Further reading
Chapter 7: Textiles and clothing
7.1 Growing and processing fibres
7.2 Dyeing and finishing textiles
7.3 Clothing design and manufacture
7.4 Maintaining the product during use
7.5 Waste and recycling
7.6 Issues for designers
Useful websites and agencies
Chapter 8: Furniture
8.1 Selecting materials
8.2 Manufacture
8.3 Use
8.4 Waste avoidance and resource recovery
8.5 System-wide issues
Chapter 9: Electronic and electrical products
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Selecting low-impact materials
9.3 Maximising energy and water efficiencies
9.4 Design for waste minimisation
9.5 Challenges for the future
Further reading
Useful organisations
Chapter 10: Designing tomorrow today
10.1 Where to from here?
10.2 Maximising eco-efficiency
10.3 Beyond the ecological horizon
10.4 Beyond the cultural horizon
10.5 Conclusions
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To place an order for this title or to view the Introduction online,
please visit the Greenleaf website at:
http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/catalogue/dplusenv.htm
You can also request a review copy or inspection copy from this site - see the home page:
http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com
*********************************
Alternatively, please contact:
Samantha Self
Greenleaf Publishing
Aizlewood Business Centre
Aizlewood's Mill
Sheffield S3 8GG
UK
Tel: +44 (0)114 282 3475
Fax: +44 (0)114 282 3476
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http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com
