Sustainable Plastics - November/December 2023 - 8

opinion
Refining product design
for a circular future
Gali Feldboy Klinger, global sustainability director,
UBQ Materials
P
roduct designers, renowned
for their ingenuity
and ambition
to craft original pieces,
face a new challenge: integrating
sustainability seamlessly
into their creative processes.
Designers are pushing the
bounds of creativity to integrate
sustainable materials into product
design to produce items
that are aesthetic, functional
and live in harmony with the
planet. Making sustainability a
core tenet of design may serve
as a catalyst for new creative
ideas, where product designers
can explore and experiment
with new materials and rethink
how almost everything is made.
However, sustainability as a
design approach is not just a
fun thought experiment. That's
because plastic waste poses a
daunting environmental dilemma,
urging us to reevaluate how
we approach product design
and material selection.
As our planet grapples with
mounting ecological challenges,
we have a unique opportunity
to reimagine how
materials impact a product's
environmental footprint. Transitioning
toward circular, closedloop
material solutions offers a
compelling model, aligning our
physical creations with the natural
world. Recognising that approximately
80% of a product's
climate impact is etched during
its design phase makes design
the epicenter for sustainable
transformation, according to the
Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
Empowering sustainable
design practices
The Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development
(OECD) data highlights
the need to overhaul product
design and material selection
to minimise waste, especially
plastic, since only 9% of plas8
tics
are recycled. Product designers
are positioned to drive
this paradigm shift, with the
ability to increase demand for
sustainable plastic alternatives.
These materials should emphasise
recyclability, durability
and sustainable manufacturing
processes, all while ensuring
uncompromised quality.
Designing products for longevity
and recyclability enables
a move toward more sustainable
design practices, reducing
the constant product replacement
cycle and curbing excessive
consumption - significant
challenges in today's consumer-driven
society.
For mixed material products,
it is important designers
choose materials that are both
recyclable and easily separable.
This proactive approach can be
integrated by designers from
the initial design stages, as the
main barrier for recycling is the
use of mixed materials, items
that contain more than one material.
Designers can also consciously
select materials like
bio-based materials, cardboard
and paper, which are easily recycled
or composted. This minimises
waste generation and enables
designers to envision the
complete life cycle of their creations,
fostering innovation and
sustainability that align with circular
economy principles.
Reshaping industries
with sustainable
materials
Sustainable materials play a
pivotal role in mitigating waste.
Promising alternatives to conventional
petroleum-based
plastics are bioplastics and biobased
materials, which are derived
from renewable sources
such as plant starches, agricultural
waste or unsorted household
waste. Bioplastics and
November/December 2023
bio-based materials
offer critical
advantages,
including
b iodegradability
or high
recyclability.
I n t e gr a t ing
bioplastics and
other sustainable
materials into
product design contributes
to a more sustainable
approach, while simultaneously
reducing reliance
on finite resources.
Real-world examples demonstrate
the potential and success
of sustainable plastic design,
showcasing how innovative
approaches are reshaping industries.
A notable trend gaining
popularity in the packaging
industry is flexible bottle packaging,
crafted from bioplastics,
rendering them recyclable.
When correctly recycled or reused,
these bottles seamlessly
integrate into the circular economy,
reducing waste and promoting
resource efficiency.
Other examples include outdoor
patio furniture made from
recycled plastic in milk bottles
or planters made with unsorted
household waste. Some designers
are also making shoes with
recycled plastic, an important
step as the footwear industry
is responsible for overproduction
and material waste. One
company has even designed
sustainable roofing made from
dirty diapers. These practical
applications exemplify how strategic
design choices can elevate
product sustainability, offering a
glimpse into a future where responsible
practices lead the way.
Some manufacturers have
also embraced the concept of
designing for disassembly, enabling
easy separation of different
materials during the recycling
process, while others have
adopted closed-loop systems
in which municipal waste is
Gali Feldboy
Klinger
collected, processed and transformed
into new sustainable
raw materials that can be implemented
across product design
from automotive to packaging,
construction to home goods
and more.
Towards a
sustainable future
Product designers are the torchbearers
of creativity, constantly
pushing boundaries and taking
societies forward with new
ideas for our world and how we
live in it. By creating products
with sustainability as a principle
from the earliest stages,
designers can help ensure that
production and consumption
of goods are part of a circular
economy that lives in harmony
with environmental needs and
aligns with business objectives.
While product designers
are the imagination engines
behind what's possible, it will
take collaboration with material
scientists, recycling experts
and manufacturers to bring
the imagined into reality. This
is an interdisciplinary effort
that involves developing novel
materials while not disrupting
manufacturing practices too
much to prevent implementation.
Conscientious assessment
at the materials design stage
leads the entire value chain towards
manufacturing genuinely
sustainable products.
Sustainable Plastics - November/December 2023

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