How do you choose sustainable materials for your design project?

? Choose materials that last a long time to avoid waste from frequent replacements. ? Pick options that are easy to fix if they break, so they don't need to be thrown away. ? Remember, super strong materials aren't always best for the environment. Find a balance between durability and how much stuff is needed to make them.

As a sustainability practitioner, choosing materials for a design project involves looking beyond aesthetics and functionality. Here's a framework to consider when selecting sustainable materials: * Think cradle-to-grave (or cradle-to-cradle for a truly circular approach). Consider the environmental impact throughout the material's life cycle, from resource extraction and processing to transportation, use, and end-of-life (disposal or recycling).

Al seleccionar materiales sostenibles para un proyecto, es crucial considerar su disponibilidad local (km 0), lo que reduce las emisiones de carbono asociadas al transporte. Además, es importante evaluar las opciones de ensamblaje y desmontaje posterior de estos materiales, así como su potencial para la economía circular.

Choosing the right impact category when assessing material fit for a project helps to match the priority of the project with the sustainability goals of the company. For instance, when working with metals, GWP, ADP, HTP, ETP, CED are all required to properly assess a material.

? Pick materials that use less stuff to make (water, energy, raw materials). ? Choose things that pollute less when made (emissions, waste). ? This helps the environment and can save you money too!

We need to consider the overall impact, including the material and maintenance footprint, product lifespan, and disposal methods (reuse, recycle, and return to nature). For our Bedding Collections, we choose cotton, linen, and wool not only for their contribution to a great night's sleep, -keeping you cool or warm-, but also for how they seamlessly integrate back into nature. In order to assure they come from trusted sources we look for Oekotexs, and GOTS certified vendors.

? Pick materials that grow back fast: Bamboo, cork, etc. These can be harvested again and again. ? Avoid materials that take forever to come back: Plastics and metals can take hundreds of years. ? Choose renewable = good for the environment now and later.

? Use recycled materials! This cuts down on trash and saves resources. ? Look for materials with lots of "post-consumer" or "post-industrial" recycled content. - Post-consumer means stuff people already used and threw away. - Post-industrial means leftover scraps from factories. ? Recycled materials often use less energy to make than brand new ones.

? Choose locally sourced materials to reduce transport emissions. ? Support your local economy by picking local options. ? Local materials are better suited to your climate for a sustainable design.

Local sourcing ensures, minimize transportation emissions by using locally available materials whenever possible. This translates to a lower carbon footprint. It also ensures Empowerment of local agencies, which builds up trust with stakeholders. It also provides agility and resilience to your sustainable designs for any just in case situation.

Wichtig für die Materialwahl bei Industrial Design-Projekten scheinen mir unter dem Aspekt der Nachhaltigkeit folgende Punkte: - früher Entscheid. Wenn ich die Wahl früh im Prozess treffe, kann ich die M?glichkeiten der Materialien voll und ganz aussch?pfen und materialgerecht gestalten (z.B. Wahl der Verarbeitungsmethode/Wandst?rken / Radien). - Lebensdauer des Produkts und des Materials synchronisieren. Wie lange soll das Produkt im Einsatz sein, was hei?t dies hinsichtlich Materialwahl? Macht hier Langlebigkeit mehr Sinn oder Kompostierbarkeit? - End of Life: was passiert am Lebensende des Produkts. Kann das Material in der aktuellen Form wiederverwendet oder einfach umgearbeitet werden oder ist es leicht und sortenrein zu recyclen?

I prefer to use a Material matrix to downselect appropriate materials for furniture, packaging and electronics. The matrix helps build a consistent set of hard requirements and score each materials. It is easy to share it across stakeholders and facilitate the jobs of partners

??Pro tip: I always suggest to my clients that building a material framework for their projects can greatly enhance efficiency and consistency. By establishing clear guidelines and reusable components, projects can scale more effectively and maintain a high level of quality. Whether you’re working on a small startup or a large enterprise project, investing time in creating a robust material framework pays off in the long run by saving time, reducing costs, and delivering a superior product.

Design for disassembly: If possible, consider designing your project for easy disassembly. This allows for easier material separation and recycling at the end of its lifespan. Remember, sustainable design often involves trade-offs. Weigh the different factors and choose the material that best balances your project's needs with the overall environmental impact.