2.2 Waste mitigation strategies Notes

Impact of the Throwaway Society and Designing for Sustainability

1. The industrial age brought unprecedented growth and innovation.
2. It also gave rise to a throwaway culture, where products were designed for short-term use and disposal.
3. Waste-mitigation strategies can reduce the amount of disposed material and resources in land fills and other disposal areas

The 5 Rs: Strategies for Waste Mitigation

1. The 5Rs help us reduce waste, save resources, and protect the environment by making smarter choices in design, production, and everyday life.
2. Designers play a crucial role in mitigating waste through the 5 Rs:

Re-use (Extend Product Life & Functionality)

Designing products that can be used multiple times or repurposed reduces waste and increases efficiency.

1. Create modular furniture that can be reassembled into different configurations.
2. Design packaging that can be repurposed as storage or reusable containers.
3. Develop multi-use products that serve different purposes instead of single-use items.
4. Encourage refillable systems (e.g., water bottles, cosmetic containers).
5. Use high-quality materials that withstand wear and tear, allowing for continued use.

Recycle (Enable Material Recovery & Reprocessing)

Design with recyclability in mind, ensuring materials can be easily separated and reused in new products.

1. Use mono-material designs (single-type plastic or metal) to simplify recycling.
2. Avoid toxic coatings, adhesives, or mixed materials that make recycling difficult.
3. Label products with clear recycling instructions to guide users on disposal.
4. Incorporate recycled materials (e.g., ocean plastics, post-consumer paper) into new designs.
5. Work with local recycling facilities to ensure product components are compatible with existing systems.

Repair (Design for Easy Maintenance & Fixability)

Products should be repairable rather than disposable, extending their usability and reducing waste.

1. Use standardized screws and replaceable parts instead of permanent fastenings.
2. Provide repair manuals and kits to encourage DIY fixes.
3. Design electronics with removable batteries to extend lifespan.
4. Enable modular upgrades, so individual components (e.g., camera lenses, keyboards) can be replaced instead of the entire product.
5. Collaborate with repair networks (e.g., Fairphone, iFixit) to make spare parts accessible.

Recondition (Restore & Refurbish for Second-Life Use)

Instead of discarding old products, reconditioning gives them new value through restoration and upgrades.

1. Offer refurbished electronics with certified testing and minor updates.
2. Recondition office chairs or furniture by replacing worn upholstery instead of discarding them.
3. Develop trade-in programs where old products are repaired and resold at lower costs.
4. Upgrade old industrial machinery with modern technology instead of full replacement.
5. Restore vintage fashion or shoes by re-dyeing, re-stitching, or re-coating materials.

Re-engineer (Redesign for Sustainability & Efficiency)

Re-engineering involves rethinking product design to improve efficiency, reduce material use, and minimize environmental impact.

1. Use biodegradable or compostable materials to replace plastics.
2. Reduce excess materials by designing for lightweight strength (e.g., honeycomb structures).
3. Apply circular design principles, ensuring materials can be recovered and reused.
4. Optimize manufacturing processes to reduce energy and waste.
5. Develop cradle-to-cradle designs, where products are created with a plan for full lifecycle recovery.

Waste reduction and designing out waste

1. Resources are getting more scarce as we deplete non-renewable resources
2. Therefore it's super important for designers to be more thoughtful in their design choices and also include waste mitigation strategies
3. These include:
   1. Circular Economy
   2. Energy Recovery
   3. WEEE Recovery
   4. Raw material recovery
   5. Recycling
   6. Dematerialization

Circular Economy: A Closed-Loop System

1. The circular economy is an economic model where materials and resources never go to waste. Instead of throwing things away, they are reused, recycled, or turned into something new
2. Key Idea: Waste is not trash—it’s a resource that can be used again.
3. Designers need to think carefully about
   1. How materials are used – Can they be recycled or reused?
   2. Energy use – How much energy does it take to make and transport the product?
   3. End of life – Can the product be turned into something new instead of being thrown away?

How Designers Create for the Circular Economy

1. Designers must work with others to ensure materials stay in use. For example, if someone wants to make recycled jeans, they need to collaborate with: