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Last updated on 2024年8月3日

How can you design products with fewer toxic chemicals?

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Toxic chemicals are harmful to human health and the environment, and they can be found in many products that we use every day. From plastics to paints, from electronics to textiles, toxic chemicals can leach, off-gas, or accumulate in our bodies and ecosystems. How can you design products with fewer toxic chemicals? Here are some tips and strategies to help you create more sustainable and safer products.

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1 Choose safer materials

One of the first steps to design products with fewer toxic chemicals is to select materials that have low or no toxicity, or that are certified by credible standards or labels. For example, you can look for materials that are biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or made from renewable sources. You can also check if the materials have been tested for hazardous substances, such as heavy metals, phthalates, or flame retardants. Some examples of standards or labels that indicate safer materials are Cradle to Cradle, Green Seal, or OEKO-TEX.

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Derek Schroeder

Sustainable Packaging Consultant
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This seems like a no-brainer but it's often easier said than done. Regulations are moving quickly, making a lot of forever chemicals used in packaging products obsolete. However, that doesn't always mean a viable alternative is readily available. PCR or post-consumer recycled materials are currently the most sustainable options on the market since the supply chain is already established and the materials are being upcycled.

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EMMANUEL A.

Multidisciplinary Designer | Thinker
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Designing products with fewer toxic chemicals involves prioritizing non-toxic alternatives. Choose materials that are free from harmful substances, and favor water-based adhesives and finishes. Ensure proper ventilation during manufacturing to reduce exposure. Collaborate with suppliers for transparent material sourcing. Consider modular designs for easy disassembly and safer recycling. Regularly update designs based on evolving chemical knowledge. Ultimately, a vigilant approach to material selection and production processes is essential for creating safer and more environmentally friendly products.

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2 Avoid unnecessary additives

Another way to design products with fewer toxic chemicals is to avoid adding unnecessary or harmful substances to the materials or the final product. For example, you can reduce or eliminate the use of adhesives, coatings, dyes, fragrances, or preservatives that may contain toxic chemicals or cause allergic reactions. You can also opt for natural or plant-based alternatives, such as soy ink, beeswax, or essential oils. By avoiding unnecessary additives, you can simplify your product design and make it easier to reuse or recycle.

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Cory Connors ????

Your Sustainable Packaging Source????| Top Voice LinkedIn | 90K+ on TikTok @Corygated | Host of Sustainable Packaging Podcast | IPPO Member | I'll Help You make your Packaging more Sustainable
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Yes! We are working hard on this in the sustainable packaging world. If a coating or additive isn’t critical we need to test it without the item. The future of sustainable products are stripped back to their basic elements.

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Miguel Alfredo Sano Rodríguez

Estudiante de Ingeniería Industrial en la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo-
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Lamentablemente, muchas empresas se abstienen de renovar y/o modificar sus procesos por miedo a un cambio que, a la corta o a la larga, les puede favorecer tanto a ellos como empresa, como al mundo y al medioambiente. No está demás pensar en que menos puede ser más.

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3 Apply green chemistry principles

Green chemistry is the science of designing chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. By applying green chemistry principles, you can design products with fewer toxic chemicals and minimize the environmental impact of your product life cycle. Some of the green chemistry principles are: use less energy and water, prevent waste, use renewable feedstocks, design for degradation, and use safer solvents and reaction conditions.

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Derek Schroeder

Sustainable Packaging Consultant
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Water consumption is one of the most important things to consider. Fresh water is increasingly going to become a scarce resource and responsible allocation of this resource is extremely important. Consider the Colorado plateau region where water has been over-allocated for decades and we are now seeing the ramifications of terrible policies.

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4 Consider the product life cycle

To design products with fewer toxic chemicals, you also need to consider the product life cycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal. How will your product affect the health and safety of the workers, consumers, and communities involved in its production, distribution, use, and disposal? How will your product interact with the natural environment and other living organisms? How can you extend the lifespan of your product or make it easier to repair, reuse, or recycle? By thinking about these questions, you can design products that are more sustainable and less toxic.

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Derek Schroeder

Sustainable Packaging Consultant
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A closed-loop lifespan of the materials being used is the most ideal situation here. If we can use the materials in a different capacity or recycle them after their use, that is absolutely paramount to reimagining the future of manufacturing.

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5 Engage with stakeholders

Finally, to design products with fewer toxic chemicals, you need to engage with the stakeholders who are affected by or interested in your product. These include your customers, suppliers, regulators, investors, employees, and competitors. By engaging with them, you can learn about their needs, preferences, expectations, and feedback. You can also communicate your product benefits, challenges, and goals. By building trust and collaboration with your stakeholders, you can create products that are not only safer, but also more desirable and valuable.

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6 Keep learning and improving

Designing products with fewer toxic chemicals is not a one-time task, but a continuous process of learning and improving. You need to keep up with the latest research, regulations, and innovations in your field. You need to monitor and measure the performance and impact of your product. You need to seek and apply feedback and suggestions from your stakeholders. You need to experiment and iterate your product design and test different solutions. By doing so, you can design products that are more sustainable and less toxic.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Robert Brüll

CEO | Erschwingliche Hochleistungsmaterialien | Steigerung von Leistung, Qualit?t und Rentabilit?t Ihrer Produkte
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Sometimes potentially harmful materials are the only viable option to achieve certain outcomes but it is important to consider methods to minimize harm. Harmful substances can be capsulated, packaged or marked in special ways to reduce the chance of harm. Furthermore, thorough tracking can help reduce the impact of those materials as misuse can be addressed quicker.

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Harpreet Kaur

Architect | Certified Revit User | B.Arch | M.Arch (Urban design)
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The first thing that comes to my mind, when someone says toxic is Food, clothes and skin products. And how over the years more and more chemicals are being used in there productions. so many examples are available on the world wide web of the same. These are some of the everyday items that we consume or use, but they may contain harmful substances that can affect our health and the environment. In order to curb these, not only do authorities need to make stricter regulations but we as end users need to make more conscious decisions for ourselves and people around us.

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How can you design products with fewer toxic chemicals?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Choose safer materials

2 Avoid unnecessary additives

3 Apply green chemistry principles

4 Consider the product life cycle

5 Engage with stakeholders

6 Keep learning and improving

7 Here’s what else to consider

Sustainable Design

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How can you design products with fewer toxic chemicals?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Choose safer materials

2 Avoid unnecessary additives

3 Apply green chemistry principles

4 Consider the product life cycle

5 Engage with stakeholders

6 Keep learning and improving

7 Here’s what else to consider

Sustainable Design

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感谢您的反馈

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