T Cooper

Product Development Implications of Sustainable Consumption

This paper traces the origins of the concept of sustainable consumption and identifies some key theoretical and practical concerns. Distinguishing sustainable consumption from green consumerism, the potential implications for new product development and design are explored. The focus is on the environmental impact of consumer products (as distinct from packaging). It is suggested that while a product-centred approach may underlie green consumerism, sustainable consumption implies ‘sufficiency’ as well as ‘efficiency,’ and broader psychological and socio-cultural considerations must be taken into account. Designers will need to respond to increasing pressure for consumption patterns that have a reduced environmental impact.

Effective dialogue: Enhanced public engagement as a legitimising tool for municipal waste management decision-making

The complexity of municipal waste management decision-making has increased in recent years, accompanied by growing scrutiny from stakeholders, including local communities. This complexity reflects a socio-technical framing of the risks and social impacts associated with selecting technologies and sites for waste treatment and disposal facilities. Consequently there is growing pressure on local authorities for stakeholders (including communities) to be given an early opportunity to shape local waste policy in order to encourage swift planning, development and acceptance of the technologies needed to meet statutory targets to divert waste from landfill. This paper presents findings from a research project that explored the use of analytical-deliberative processes as a legitimising tool for waste management decision-making. Adopting a mixed methods approach, the study revealed that communicating the practical benefits of more inclusive forms of engagement is proving difficult even though planning and policy delays are hindering development and implementation of waste management infrastructure. Adopting analytical-deliberative processes at a more strategic level will require local authorities and practitioners to demonstrate how expert-citizen deliberations may foster progress in resolving controversial issues, through change in individuals, communities and institutions. The findings suggest that a significant shift in culture will be necessary for local authorities to realise the potential of more inclusive decision processes. This calls for political actors and civic society to collaborate in institutionalising public involvement in both strategic and local planning structures.

WEEE, WEEE, WEEE, WEEE, all the way home? An evaluation of proposed electrical and electronic waste legislation

Over the past decade the European Commission has been developing plans to address environmental problems caused by a growing volume of waste from electrical and electronic products. It has recently published a series of proposals for a draft Directive. Using a recognized analytical framework, this paper evaluates arguments for and against these proposals in the light of responses from stakeholder interest groups. It assesses the strong criticisms voiced by some industry representatives and the reservations of environmental and consumer organizations. The paper concludes that the proposed legislation, if refined and implemented effectively, would represent a highly significant advance in environmental policy, as waste-related environmental costs would be internalized into the price of electrical and electronic products. Sustainable product design could thereby be promoted. Copyright

Circular product design. A multiple loops life cycle design approach for the circular economy

Abstract The circular economy is a high priority subject of discussion in the current political and academic contexts; however, practical approaches in relevant disciplines like design are in need of development. This article proposes a conceptual framework for circular product design, based on four multiple loops strategies: (I) design to slow the loops, (II) design to close the loops, (III) design for bio-inspired loops, and (IV) design for bio-based loops. Recent literature, notably on life cycle design strategies, the circular economy conceptual model and the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package, is reviewed and product design cases illustrating each of the proposed are analysed. The article argues that different ‘circular’ approaches centred upon the life cycle design phases can provide practical guiding strategies during the design process and thus promote sustainable design solutions for the circular economy within the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.

The Individual-Practice Framework: A Design Tool for Understanding Consumer Behaviour

Design for behaviour change is a growing research field which aims at providing methods and tools to foster pro-environmental and pro-social action through the application of diverse theories, models and approaches from the social sciences. This chapter presents the Individual-Practice Framework, which uniquely combines insights from social psychology and social practice theory, and discusses its possible use as a design tool. The Individual-Practice Framework captures the interrelation between the individual and specific combinations of the ‘material’, ‘meaning’ and ‘competence’ elements of practices. The framework is proposed here as a design tool for the effective exploration and envisioning of innovative, and conceivably more sustainable, product and service solutions. The paper discusses the advantages of employing the framework as part of the design process, sets preliminary guidelines for practical application and considers possible limitations. It concludes with an assessment of the potential for adoption of the Individual-Practice Framework in participatory design workshops.

Extending product lifetimes through WEEE reuse and repair: Opportunities and challenges in the UK

Discarded electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is a rapidly growing waste stream. This has increased, in part, because advances in technology have contributed to shorter product lifetimes. As such, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has received increasing attention from policy makers. Previous research has revealed the large proportion of end-of-life consumer electronics disposed of through residual waste collections and destined for landfill disposal or incineration. This represents a missed opportunity for extending their lifetime by facilitating recovery for repair or reuse. This paper outlines current policy context, explores routes for end-of-life EEE in the UK and examines opportunities for product life extension through reuse. A series of semi-structured interviews were undertaken to determine if current collection system for end-of-life equipment in the UK adequately encourages increased repair and reuse in line with UK Governments waste reduction programme, or whether there is excessive focus on recycling. The findings are reported to discuss if UK policy framework is adequate to embed legislative requirements and improve current practices and whether the current system promotes awareness and understanding by householders sufficient to encourage behaviour change.

Creativity at Work and Sustainable Product Development: Practitioner Perspectives from the Clothing Industry

This chapter addresses creativity in the context of product development within the creative industries, incorporating an example from the clothing industry. In relation to creativity and product development, designers are supported by many other actors, such as technologists, engineers, and buyers, who are also creative in their own right. We begin by exploring creativity at work, which we consider to encompass idea generation comprising creative problem-solving, moving beyond product ideas to service and commercial concepts. Product (or service) development, improvement, and practical process adaptation are amongst the various tangible aspects of creativity which can be managed, whereas other aspects of creativity such as creative thought processes are less tangible and consequently less manageable. In the clothing sector, the temporal, financial, and technical parameters of creativity at work are set for designers by other functions within their own organization and from their clients and suppliers, subject to conflicting commercial demands. Sustainable design through clothing longevity appears at odds with the priorities of the prevailing “fast fashion” business model. Challenging issues such as sustainability and longevity require innovative solutions, and the creative thought processes used by designers could be central to improving sustainability within the fashion industry.

Emerging Social Movements for Sustainability: Understanding and Scaling Up Upcycling in the UK

Social movements have campaigned for environmental sustainability, most notably in relation to sustainable food production and climate change. Past research on these social movements has paid attention mainly to the relatively well-organised and established initiatives. Less attention has been paid to emerging collective actions by citizens. This chapter therefore aims to provide analyses of one such case, the upcycling movement in the UK, and considers its potential implications. The contributions to knowledge made through research in design for sustainable behaviour, upcycling, and sustainability science are outlined. Challenges for upscaling the upcycling movement are discussed, and further challenges concerning sustainability are raised.

Challenges and support for scaling up upcycling businesses in the UK: insights from small-business entrepreneurs

Upcycling is the creation or modification of a product from used materials, components and products which is of equal or higher quality or value than the compositional elements. Within the context of increased product longevity, it enables a reduction in the use of raw materials by extending the lifetime of used materials, components and products, thereby increasing material efficiency and reducing industrial energy consumption. If scaled up to a considerable level through appropriate interventions, upcycling could, in theory, contribute significantly to preventing environmental harm. In particular, upcycling-based businesses have been identified as one of sustainable alternatives to prevailing business models that are based on unrestrained access to virgin materials, in contrast with the circular economy. Previous research regarding upcycling has focused mostly on fashion and textiles and highlighted the potential of upcycling businesses, providing sector-specific suggestions for expansion beyond their currently niche status. There is a critical knowledge gap concerning ways of achieving the full potential of upcycling-based businesses across the whole economy. This paper therefore provides results from a study on the challenges that upcycling entrepreneurs face when attempting to scale up and how to overcome them, based on an exploratory workshop with 12 British upcycling entrepreneurs. It identifies the key challenges faced by upcycling businesses and presents a mapping of the systemic support required for overcoming them, with potential actors.

Individual Upcycling in the UK: Insights for Scaling up Towards Sustainable Development

This work was undertaken in the Sustainable Consumption Research Group at Nottingham Trent University.