Glenn,
Thanks for your response. I'm not sure what is meant by "'extensive'
designed 3D products." I noted " extensive and increasing uses of recycled
material in products that can be purchased."
There are notable industries based on recycled materials, often in
commodity goods or household goods. These are designed products in three
dimensions. They run from cardboard boxes and rolls of toilet paper to
aluminum cans. The Coca-Cola can is one example, here.
I also spoke to the issue of extensive use of recycled material in other
products. IKEA, for example, makes significant use of recycled materials
when it can do so. So do some of the automobile manufacturers.
The issue is not whether the recycled material constitues the majority of
the structure of an artifact. A modest proportion of recycled material to
new material in mass-produced automobiles has significantly greater impact
on the environment than a far larger proportion of recycled material in a
far smaller product sold in far smaller quantities. The automobile industry
is now exploring the issue of recycling and reuse to an ever-greater
degree. It's my understanding that Daimler-Benz, Ford, and Volvo -- not to
mention some of the other global auto firms -- are working this field. Name
any high quality production line car today, and there will be enough
recycled material in that one car model to eclipse the total use of
recycled materials in all of Starck's products combined.
Much of the plastics industry now uses recycled material as part of the
feedstock. The glass container industry follows similar practices.
Batteries and other products that are dangerous to dispose of are being
subject to recycling and reuse, as are toner cartridges for computer
printers. In some places, computers themselves are being refurbished or
broken down for recycling rather than disposed of as waste fill.
Few of these are glamorous products. They ARE designed products that can
actually be purchased. The claim for Starck was that "He is also one of the
few to use a lot of recycled material in a product that can/could actually
be purchased." The counterclaim is that many industries are doing this, in
many ways, great and small, and at each step of the way, designers of some
kind are engaged in finding ways to use recycled material. I appreciate
Starck's efforts here -- and I appreciate the many efforts of the tens of
thousands of designers, designer-engineers, production chiefs, operations
managers and others who are also using vast quantities of recycled
materials in products that can be purchased.
While my little village in the Swedish countryside is no global example, we
sort and recycle 1) plastics, 2) newspapers and soft paper, 3) cardboard,
4) clear glass, 5) colored glass, 6) metal cans in general at a village
recycling post, and we also recycle 7) aluminum cans in specific, 8) clear
plastic bottles for beverages at the local store.
There are far better and far more extensive programs in place in many large
cities in Japan and in some areas of Europe. All these recycled materials
go into industrial products.
I have offered well-known industrial examples and several specific
companies. Chris Sherwin subscribes to this list, as do several others
engaged in sustainable design. Since these colleagues will know companies
and products by name, I'd be delighted for assistance in naming specific
products.
Best regards,
Ken
Ken Friedman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Leadership and Strategic Design
Department of Knowledge Management
Norwegian School of Management
+47 22.98.51.07 Direct line
+47 22.98.51.11 Telefax
Home office:
+46 (46) 53.245 Telephone
+46 (46) 53.345 Telefax
email: [log in to unmask]
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