Edited by Giulia Dispoto
The application of green policiescan be adopted by any type of company and put into practice in all aspects of business. Sustainable design, also called eco-design or ecological design, is characterised by product design that respects the environment in which we live. Eco-design aims to eliminate or reduce the negative effects on theecosystem in industrial productionthrough the use of designs that safeguard the environmental issues.
The sustainable design is an integrated process between design, architecture and town planning with the use of renewable resources, materials and production processes, achieving a lower impact on the natural environment. The main applications of sustainable design are in the use of sustainable materials, production processes and products that consume less energy, products of higher quality and durability in order to reduce the impact of the waste produced, and the conception of projects that provide a second use for the object in question in terms of both material and function.
I eco-design principles apply to all stages of the product life cycle, from the sourcing and use of raw materials, which must be reusable, biodegradable, recyclable and non-toxic; to their processing in the production process and during distribution, they must comply with the European Union Directive 2009/125/CAnd regulating the Energy Related Products (ERP) on eco-design (Directive 2009/125/EC)which extends the scope of the Ecodesign Directive 2005/32/EC.
The consumption of environmentally sustainable product is also characterised by a life cycle made as long as possible through recycling and potentially infinite reuse. If this type of solution is not possible, the product must however be 100% biodegradable, so that it is completely within the natural cycle.
The consumer, however, also plays a key role in this project, committing not only to conscious and responsible consumption, but subsequently to the recycling and reuse phase. In order for the consumer to be informed and prepared for the product life cycle, companies must consider the consumer as an involved agent within the process and the product life cycle. If this last point is ignored, the whole process may lose its meaning. Sensitivity and awareness regarding the themes of ecology and sustainability is growing, and companies themselves must become promoters of these new ways of producing, consuming and living, making their consumers participate.
The use of plastics in Europe: strategies for a circular economy
On 16 January 2018, the European Commission issued a communiqué to disseminate strategies that can be adopted to change and reduce the use of plastics. Plastic is one of the most present and used materials in almost the entire European economy. Unfortunately, the immoderate use of plastic to date creates damage to the environment both during production cycles and in the use and disposal phases. In recent months, it has been realised how urgent it is to address the environmental problems caused by excessive use of this environmentally harmful material.
Tonnes of plastic waste end up in the oceans every year, a clear and worrying sign that has made the public increasingly aware of this issue. Although it is now proven to be dangerous, the plastic industry is still very important for the European economy. For this reason, it becomes difficult to want to eliminate it completely. Instead, companies need to rethink and improve the functioning of its complex value chain through innovative solutions and a shared vision to steer investments in the right direction, increasing its sustainability, in line with the objectives pursued by the new EU industrial policy strategy.
In December 2015, the Commission drew up an action plan for the development of a circular economy, in which redesigning the use of plastics is a key challenge. The European Union strategies are based on a new plastics economy, both in design and production aspects, but also in sustainable reuse, repair and recycling methods. This new approach aims to stimulate innovation and limit pollution by reducing carbon emissions. Approximately 25.8 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated each year in Europe, of which less than 30% is recycled. The rates of landfilling and incineration of plastic waste remain high (31% and 39% respectively); moreover, while landfilling has decreased over the last ten years, incineration has increased. The economy is estimated to lose 95% of the value of plastic packaging material after a very short first-use cycle.
The demand for recycled plastic today represents only about 6% of the total demand for plastics in Europe. It is estimated that plastic production and incineration of plastic waste together generate about 400 million tonnes of CO2 per year. Increased use of recycled plastics can reduce dependence on the extraction of fossil fuels for plastic production and reduce CO2 emissions. According to estimates, recycling plastic waste worldwide could result in annual energy savings of 3.5 billion barrels of oil.
The phenomenon is accentuated by the increasing amount of plastic waste generated each year, which can also be attributed to the growing prevalence of products made of this disposable material, e.g. packaging or other consumer products that are thrown away after only one short use, are rarely recycled and are prone to being dispersed in the environment. These products include small packages, bags, disposable cups, lids, straws and cutlery, where plastic is widely used because of its light weight, low cost and convenience. New sources of plastic leakage are also increasing, creating further potential risks to the environment and human health. The microplastics - tiny plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm - accumulates in the sea, where it is easily ingested by marine fauna due to its small size, and can also enter the food chain. Recent studies have detected its presence in the air, in drinking water and in foods such as salt or honey, and nothing is known yet
about their impact on human health.
Bioplastics
BioplasticsIn the light of the problems outlined above, alternative types of raw materials are being developed in recent years, such as: the organic plastic. This material has the great advantage of offering the same functionality as traditional plastic but with a potentially lower environmental impact.
La green plastic is a 'bio-based' material, derived from plant materials of biological origin, such as maize starch, sugar or cellulose, and does not include in its composition any elements of fossil origin, typically used for the production of plastics such as coal or oil. The biodegradability is a characteristic that is highly dependent on environmental conditions, such as temperature, presence of microorganisms, presence of oxygen and water.
La bioplastics has a much lower environmental impact than traditional plastics. Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions are significantly more favourable for bio-based plastics. In addition, the bioplastics offers quite similar performance to traditional plastics in a variety of application areas. Unfortunately, in the transition to bioplastics Several obstacles still remain, such as the higher costs compared to traditional plastics and the fear that, if the crops from which biomass is obtained are not controlled and guaranteed, there may be a problem with the availability of some food stocks for the production of this material. The crops are, however, water-efficient and the entire production cycle is carefully monitored to assess the overall environmental and social impact. The balance of the ethical 'code of conduct' that is adopted, however, is very positive, safeguarding not only the environment but also all the people involved in the production cycle. The energy used to produce the bioplastics is also obtained for the 80% from renewable sources.
Companies should invest in resources and energy to adapt their advances and technologies, as only in this way is a change for a more sustainable and ecological future, from which we could all benefit greatly, desirable and possible.
Furthermore, the increasing market share of plastics with biodegradable properties creates new opportunities but also generates risks. Without clear labelling or marking for consumers and without proper waste collection and treatment, it could lead to an increase in plastic leakage and create problems for mechanical recycling.
Thinking Matter: practical application of the use of bioplastics in Design
During the Milan Furniture Fair 2019, a trade fair and important meeting point for operators in the furniture and design industry, the focus was on sustainability and a environment-friendly design. The exhibited projects that aroused the most interest focused on recycling, on the last stages of the product life cycle, on an alternative and responsible use of materials. The designers' aim was to amaze, to create new senses, to make people think about the future and possible challenges.
Within the Milan fair, the space dedicated to young designers under 35 called Salone Satellite had as its central theme: "FOOD as a DESIGN OBJECT'. The aim was to initiate a debate on the opportunities that the food sector offers the world of design. Thus, creative ideas were directed towards themes such as the analysis of the production and consumption cycle, waste and waste management, and educational processes. At Salone Satellite not only design was discussed but all those issues that can make one think about possible directions to take in the future.
Luca Alessandrini and Henry & Co. - Thought Matter
Among the projects presented that focus on sustainability, the work Pensiero Materia was born from the collaboration of two Italian companies that base their activities on research and experimentation of new materials. Pensiero Materia (www.pensieromateria.it) defines itself as a collective of designers working together to create sustainable designs through the use of materials of natural origin. From this project came the Italian Biodesign ManifestoCircular economy, consumption reduction, agri-food chains, new materials.
As designers, their aim is to help society in raising awareness about the new sustainable solutions. The projects presented recover waste materials to create everyday objects. The theme of using green materials and sustainable design is one of the 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals defined by the UNand specifically point 12 'Ensuring sustainable patterns of production and consumption'. The materials underpinning Pensiero Materia's bio-design manifesto are tomatoes, mushrooms, coffee, maize, clay and oranges. All products made are created from a mix of waste materials and 100% sustainable low environmental impact products. Some projects The set of kitchen objects made from bio-plastic derived from tomato waste. This vegetable typical of Italian cuisine returns to the table in different forms thanks to 3D printing. The production methods came about thanks to the meeting of prototyping rapid 4.0 such as 3D printing and one of the oldest manufacturing practices, namely hand moulding and natural drying.
The 'Arco' table lamp represents Italian style at 100%, from the material used, made from Autogrill's coffee waste, to its round arch shape, the symbol of the peninsula's architecture, to its LED technology, developed by the Verona-based company Hikari.
KITE by Mogu is a tile, from agricultural or industrial residual biomass. The biocompound functions as a natural 100% sound absorber and fire retardant. The sound-absorbing panels are made of soft, foaming mycelium composites.
The PEEL chandelier is made of 'Orb': biocompound of organic waste from orange peels. This material converts one of the fastest growing waste streams in the western world into a valuable and functional material. The material designed to create PEEL uses no additives or synthetic chemicals, making it 100% natural, biodegradable, vegan.
Choose bioplastics from renewable sources therefore represents a great ethical value and awareness of serious environmental problems.
