Abstract Scope |
Switching to a circular economy in which consumer products and packaging last longer and can be upcycled into new products will require designing them differently up front. The environmental impact of products and packaging over their lifetime is determined during the design phase. Reducing environmental impact by applying design criteria such as:
o durability
o reusability
o repairability
o upgradability
o recycled content
o regional materials
will help society transition to a circular economy that can bounce back from future pandemics and natural disasters.
Pushing back against planned obsolescence and extending the life of electronics, appliances, clothing, and packaging will expand green jobs available in reverse logistics, repair, and recycling. This presentation will provide case studies about the kinds of work green design enables for:
o Reusable transportation packaging
o Repair cafes
o Electronics recycling
o Thrift store donation upcycling
o Fishing net reclamation and recycling
o Building deconstruction |