ECCA: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Julia Haltrecht

Sustainable Design Julia Haltrecht Environmental Auditor, Researcher and Campaigner BioRegional Development Group Creative Green Solutions

Sustainable Design

What are we aiming for?

The statistics

Key considerations

Measuring tools

Case studies

Julia Haltrecht - Environmental Auditor - julia.haltrecht@gmail.com

What Are We Aiming For? Zero waste Sustainable water use Protection of ecology & ecosystems Good quality, well designed, affordable Promotion of health and well being Sustainable resource use Zero carbon

The Stats Never Lie

Zero Waste: Each person produces a tonne of waste a year = weight of small car. In the UK, we produce enough rubbish to fill the Albert Hall EVERY HOUR

Sustainable water use: 9L to flush the loo, 80L to fill a bath, 35L to shower

Protection of ecology: After Bangladesh and South Korea, England is 3rd most densely populated country in world.

Good quality, well designed: “I think it is value that rules the world. There is evidence that consumers will pay more for better design, better performance, better quality, better value, and better experiences.” A.G.Lafley

Promotion of well being: The over 80s population is predicted to double to 5m by 2031. 40% said they would give up sex if it meant they could live to 100

Sustainable resource use: For every tonne of paper we need a forest the size of 5 football pitches to produce it. In 1995, the ecologist Herbert Girardet worked out London's footprint to be 125 times the size of the city itself

Zero carbon: One return flight to Australia can heat and power an average home for 6 years. One recycled aluminum can = 3 hours computer or tv power

Key Considerations Origin of raw material Manufacture & Processing Packaging Distribution & Transportation Durability & Maintenance Flexibility Disposal Life Cycle

Does It Measure Up?

Ecological footprinting

www.myfootprint.org

We are living a 3 planet lifestyle

2. Life cycle analysis

3. FSC timber (Also PEFC & SRI)

4. Energy labeling

5. ISO 14001 and EMS

Big Fish

Eurostar - Tread Lightly 10-point plan

Tesco - £100m Community Plan to save energy, use renewable energy, use more local suppliers and encourage healthier lifestyles

M&S - £200m Eco-Plan to be carbon neutral within 5 years + ‘ air-freighted’ labeling

Walkers - carbon footprint labeling

Ikea - Giving 9,600 UK employees 6 energy-saving light bulbs each = 1 tonne of CO 2

Little Fish

- locally produced furniture made from timber from cultivated forests - www.untothislast.co.uk

- eco friendly and recycled furniture - www.plidesign.co.uk

Enamore - clothes and lingerie made from vintage fabrics organic cotton, silk and hemp - www.enamore.co.uk

Wor - 99% recycled shoes - www.wornagain.co.uk

- ethical textiles and gallery -www.fabrications1.co.uk

Howies - organic street wear - www.howies.co.uk

In Conclusion

Design for low impact, no waste, long life

Understand well where the energy lies in your product… is it the embodied energy or the energy-in-use? Where can you reduce it?

Use existing materials and natural materials

Know your supply chain inside out and make ethical choices; not only manufacturers and distributors, but who supplies your electricity, phone line, your bank…