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The role of Industrial Design in creating Sustainable products
The term ‘sustainable’ was first introduced back in the 17th century. Today, as we continue to face the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and resource depletion, it is increasingly evident that sustainability needs to be a core consideration in industrial design. The concept of sustainability has been quite ambiguous and thrown around nonchalantly. Essentially it is based on the three pillars – societal, economical, and environmental. At heart, it asks the question of how we can create products and systems that meet the needs of the present without compromising our ability to survive in the future. Industrial designers play a critical role in the realisation of this goal, being the torch bearer of products – taking mere ideas and manifesting them into market ready products. Sustainability can’t be one phase in the process, it is a holistic approach to the entire industrial design process.
Some key points to consider are – Resource conservation, researching and selecting materials and processes that minimize waste and energy usage to reduce overall carbon footprint. Energy efficiency, designing products that use less energy to produce and less energy used during their life cycle. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of a product through its entire life from material extraction to its disposal and recycling. Product longevity, designing products that can be dismantled, repaired, upgraded or repurposed extends the life of the materials used increasing the value gained over the energy invested to produce. We need to shift the status quo from the linear ‘take-make-waste’ model of production and consumption to a more circular one.
The concept of circularity in designing products extends much beyond just the product itself. One has to think of the whole ecosystem involved which involves other areas such as packaging, graphic design, UI/UX design, engineering etc. Designing for a circular economy prioritises keeping materials in use for as long as possible. Choosing materials that are renewable, recyclable or compostable at the end of their life. Products that can be easily repaired, reused and repurposed are desirable traits towards a more circular economy.
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What are some of the best practices to begin with?
It may be hard to define one solution to circularity and sustainability but there are plenty of resources and organisations dedicated to creating frameworks upon which business can adopt and adapt to make the push towards a more sustainable future. The Circular Design Guide by The Ellen McArthur Foundation in collaboration with IDEO is a good attempt at trying to standardize open source this school of thought. The principles are – Understand, understanding the problems, circular solutions and how to adapt them. Define – Articulate the problem, find opportunity for change and circular solutions to address them. Make – Implement what has been learned, exchange ideas, prototype and test. Launch – Put the solution out in the world, receive feedback to generate necessary changes for refinement and the process starts again to understand, define, make and launch. Thus coming full circle. Who we are designing for has shifted from a solitary user to a web of interconnected communities that span the globe. The tools we have at our disposal including AI only means that our capabilities are limited by our imagination and creativity.
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Shifting perceptions
Some examples of companies and projects aiming to shift perceptions, educate and bring to mainstream circular practices are – Adidas with its FUTURECRAFT.LOOP, a shoe made to be remade. Its uppers are made with a 100% reclaimed and recycled marine waste additionally, the shoes can be returned to Adidas where they will be reused to make new performance footwear. Patagonia’s Worn Wear is meant to encourage buying less, repairing more and trading in used gear when no longer needed. This extends the life of the product and the materials used. Furthermore, once the consumer no longer needs their gear, they can trade it back in for a discount on other Patagonia products. These traded in products are then refurbished and resold as secondhand. Patagonia has created an ecosystem to enable higher levels of circularity and sustainability within their products. The Method Ocean Plastic Bottle is a dish soap bottle made from recycled ocean plastic and is 100% recyclable. We can see that different companies employ different strategies to ensure a more sustainable and circular future, it won’t be one giant leap but a series of smaller footsteps towards that direction.
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FAQs
Industrial designers play a critical role in creating sustainable products by making conscious decisions throughout the design process. They focus on resource conservation, energy efficiency, life cycle assessment (LCA), and product longevity to minimize the environmental impact and contribute to a circular economy.
Designers can incorporate resource conservation by selecting sustainable materials, reducing material usage, and choosing manufacturing processes that minimize waste. This approach also involves using renewable resources and designing for minimal energy consumption during production and product use.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the process of evaluating a product’s environmental impact throughout its entire life cycle—from material extraction to production, use, and disposal. LCA helps designers make informed choices to reduce negative environmental impacts at each stage of a product’s life.
How can product longevity contribute to sustainability?
Circular design is the practice of creating products that are part of a closed-loop system, where materials and components are kept in use for as long as possible. This includes designing for recyclability, reuse, and repair, which reduces waste and supports environmental sustainability.
Best practices include understanding the problem through research, defining circular opportunities, prototyping solutions, and launching products with feedback loops. Designers should choose renewable or recyclable materials, and prioritize repairability and reuse, as outlined by resources like the Circular Design Guide by The Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
How does the concept of circularity extend beyond the product itself?
Adidas created the FUTURECRAFT.LOOP shoe, made from recycled marine waste and designed to be remade into new shoes. Patagonia launched Worn Wear, encouraging consumers to repair, trade, and buy secondhand gear, promoting product longevity. Method designed a dish soap bottle made from recycled ocean plastic, which is also 100% recyclable.
Companies can shift perceptions by educating consumers about the benefits of sustainability, promoting the value of longevity, repairability, and recyclability. Offering programs like Patagonia’s Worn Wear, which encourages trading in old gear, can help consumers embrace circularity and reduce waste.
Challenges include balancing sustainability with affordability, integrating circular design principles into existing systems, and ensuring that products remain functional, durable, and desirable while reducing environmental impact. It requires a mindset shift in both design teams and consumers, which may take time and innovation to fully achieve.
