Move over for Sustainable Product Design
Sustainability is a driving force for product innovation and yes, it’s good for our environment, too.
Mortality is not something people like to dwell
on every day, but have you ever considered
the environmental impacts of a coffin?
Mortality is not something people like to dwell on every day, but have you ever considered the environmental impacts of a coffin? Plastic, synthetic linings and glue containing formaldehyde are features in most New Zealand coffins. Now that more New Zealanders are becoming aware of their impact on the environment, the demand for natural burials and eco-friendly coffins is growing.
This is where the Return to Sender eco coffin, designed by Greg Holdsworth from Holdsworth Design, comes into play. It uses a minimum of materials which are also bio-degradable and non-toxic.
The interest in and uptake of the coffin are proof that its stylish, unique design appeals to a wide range of people, not just ‘green’ consumers. It is a great example of how good product design can go hand-in-hand with sustainable principles.
Designers are increasingly aware they have a responsibility to include sustainable principles into their work, says Cathy Veninga, Chief Executive Officer of Designers Institute of New Zealand.
“Ideally, products should be designed in such a way that consumers can rest assured the product of their choice is sustainably sound,” said Veninga.
With research showing that about 70 per cent of the environmental impacts of a product are determined at design stage, thinking about sustainability at the drawing board is an effective way to improve a product’s green credentials.
The Return to Sender eco coffin won a silver award for sustainable product design at the 2007 BeST Design Awards, supported by the Ministry. Formway Furniture struck gold, at the same awards, for their Met Adapt office furniture range.
However, the design world are not the only ones thinking sustainability at the drawing-board. Awareness is also gaining moment in the packaging industry.
Kiwi export tray – a fine example of sustainable packaging
Maniaia Mist paper Solutions
considered the environmental
impacts from design to production
of their kiwifruit export tray.
A good example of best practice sustainable design is a kiwifruit export tray which was supreme winner at the 2007 Environmental Packaging Awards. The tray, developed by Maniaia Mist Paper Solutions, incorporates environmentally-friendly principles throughout its life cycle – from design, to production and disposal.
The export tray is made of 65 per cent waste kiwifruit pulp and 35 per cent unbleached wood pulp. It is suitable for use in organic export markets because no artificial additives or chemicals are used in the production process and the trays are biodegradable, compostable and recyclable.
The kiwifruit plants aren’t sprayed with a weed killer because vine trimmings are used to make pulp which prevents growers having to mulch into soil under vines.
Sustainable practices are used in the tray’s production. During the pulp making process, water is recycled and energy is conserved by using energy efficient light bulbs. Also, time switches are used on machinery to keep electricity usage to a minimum.
Paul Curtis, Executive Director of the Packaging Council, says entries at this year’s awards showed sustainability has become business as usual in the industry, mostly because sustainable products and practices have also proved to benefit profit.
Electronic goods are collected on
eDay to be disposed of safely.
“All winning entries share one trait: they will be successful. Not because they’re eco-friendly or warm and fuzzy. They will be successful either because they are the most economical solution to a problem or because they will deliver better products and more profitable results” Curtis said.
Overall, the packaging industry has committed to increasing sustainable practices on an ongoing basis through the Packaging Accord. The Accord, which has just entered its fourth year, is based on the principle that all players in the life cycle of a product carry responsibility for its environmental impacts. It brings together the majority of New Zealand’s packaging manufacturers, brand owners, retailers, recycling operators, central and local government.
A wide range of initiatives launched right across the packaging lifecycle, from design to disposal, has helped divert 57 per cent of packaging from landfill in the year to March 2007. This is an increase of 67,500 tonnes on the year before.
Encouraging all sectors to take responsibility for their products
The Government is working with many sectors (not just packaging) to accept responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products. To this end, the Ministry is working with a number of industries to establish ‘product stewardship schemes’, such as Agrecovery’s collection of used agricultural chemical containers.
Agrecovery will enable farmers and growers to dispose
of their plastic chemical containers in a responsible way.
Rachel Depree, General Manager of Sustainable Business at the Ministry, says the Government’s preferred approach is to continue to support such voluntary schemes where they are meeting their targets. “It is also responding to calls from some industry sectors for regulations to reign in free riders.”
A range of options for regulations have been recently outlined by the Government (see “Update on the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill”). These would further support businesses to design practical solutions to reduce the environmental impacts of their products, says Depree.
“The new legislation is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution. It provides a selection of measures that Government can use to support product stewardship schemes. Businesses are still expected to design and implement their own schemes, to allow flexibility in how problems are addressed and to ensure that those who know most about a product are involved in reducing its environmental impact.”
The proposed legislation is at the cutting edge of what is being developed around the world, and will provide New Zealand with an excellent base to meet the waste minimisation challenges ahead of us in a rational, timely and effective manner.
Government would have the ability to recognise and reward businesses that do the right thing. For example, through some form of accreditation such as ‘Environmental Choice’.
“Businesses that adopt sustainable practices will find their innovation and flexibility rewarded with a competitive advantage over others,” says Depree.
For information on product stewardship legislation visit www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/waste
For information on the Return to Sender Eco-Coffin visit www.returntosender.co.nz
For information on the Packaging Awards and the Packaging Accord visit www.packaging.org.nz
For information on the business benefits of sustainability visit www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/sustainable-industry/tools-services/concepts.php
