Practice IB Design Technology (DT) Topic 8.1 Sustainable Development with authentic exam-style questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank focuses on the exact syllabus content for 8.1 Sustainable Development and mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 style where relevant.
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Decoupling is a central aim of sustainable development, measuring the relationship between economic growth and its associated environmental pressures.
The table shows changes over a 5-year period:
| Indicator | Change over 5 years |
|---|---|
| GDP | +15% |
| CO2 emissions | -5% |
Which type of decoupling is illustrated by this data?
A company is developing a new line of eco-friendly sportswear. The sportswear needs to be both functional and sustainable.
The design team must consider various properties of textiles and their impact on performance and the environment. The following questions will explore different aspects of textile selection and application in sportswear design.
Identify two natural fibres commonly used in eco-friendly sportswear and discuss their suitability.
Explain the importance of moisture-wicking properties in sportswear textiles.
Compare the environmental impact of natural fibres versus synthetic fibres used in sportswear.
The diagram below shows the internal structure of a high-performance sportswear textile designed for moisture management. Label the parts A, B, and C and explain their functions.
A city library is replacing its aging public seating with a new modular bench system for indoor and sheltered outdoor areas. The design team has created an online configurator where the library can choose:
The configurator displays an estimated environmental profile for each configuration (carbon footprint per seat over 10 years, percentage recycled content, and an end-of-life plan: reuse, remanufacture, or recycling). The library must justify its final selection to the city council using sustainable development principles.
Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the configurator and a summary page.
Figure 1: Configurator page for selecting modules and materials
Figure 2: Summary page showing the selected configuration and environmental profile
State two ways sustainable development considers more than one type of impact when making decisions about products.
Outline how the configurator summary (Figure 2) helps the library make a sustainable purchasing decision.
Outline how choosing a modular bench system supports at least one principle of sustainable development.
Explain how design guidance could be applied to ensure the benches remain sustainable throughout their life cycle.
Which of the following best describes the concept of sustainable development?
An industrialized nation recorded the following economic and environmental data over a five-year period:
| Year | Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | Total Carbon Emissions |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $1.8 Trillion | 540 Million Tonnes |
| 2023 | $2.1 Trillion | 515 Million Tonnes |
Which sustainable development concept is illustrated by the relationship between these two variables?