Packaging

I understand that a Sustainable Minds LCA is intended to help designers make decisions, not make environmental claims. How do I clarify that point for clients and managers?

By Louise St. Pierre on October 31, 2009

With any developing science, it is extremely important to take care during the early years to build a foundation of credibility. A single-score LCA is just like any other tool in that it can be used well or poorly. Here are a few best-practice suggestions for how to use, discuss and present a single-figure (or scoping) LCA.

  1. In presentations, discussions, and slides, always emphasize terminology that clarifies that this is a single figure LCA, not a multi-score LCA. For instance, the term “scoping LCA,” accurately describes what this LCA is intended to do, and implies some limitations.

  2. You can use graphs judiciously. While bar graphs and charts are the best possible way to make an impact with your information, you should try to avoid any potential exaggeration. If your design only improves the environmental bottom line by a small amount, so be it. You can resist the temptation to use your presentation skills to make it look more dramatic.

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Certifications & labeling, Designers , Life cycle assessment, Manufacturing , Marketing, Materials & processes, Packaging, Products, Standards & regulations , Strategies, Supply chain, Sustainable Europe , Teamwork

As an independent product design consultant I've been getting more requests from clients for sustainable design solutions. I can see how Okala and SM can help me navigate these waters, but how do I integrate this approach into my business practice?

By Steve Belletire on July 31, 2009

I’m glad to hear you’re getting such requests. More companies are now seeing the value of ecodesign strategies. Regarding your question being engaged with this site is a good indication you are serious about providing ecodesign options to your clients. And the Okala methodology and other resources available via Sustainable Minds can provide a solid foundation for delivering quality services.

However, what isn’t included is the practical knowledge to transfer this information into part of a consulting service mix. This response offers you and other consultants a simple framework for how to best integrate ecodesign services.

This information is available in detailed form in a new Greenleaf publication, Consulting for Business Sustainability. Chapter 12, A Guide to Sustainable Design Consulting, directly addresses your question and it is my contribution to the book. I’ll provide an outline of the key practice points within the chapter, but I recommend you obtain the publication. http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/consult

1: Do your homework First, a company must have a genuine appetite for developing more environmentally responsible products and/or processes. Be certain your client views this approach as strategic to their business future and not just a short-term marketing detail. Start by acquiring information regarding corporate mission statements on the environment, current supply chain practices, any ‘low hanging fruit’ processes underway – anything that helps you get a fix on how the company perceives and communicates its environmental role.

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Certifications & labeling, Designers , Electronics, Life cycle assessment, Manufacturing , Marketing, Materials & processes, Packaging, Product service systems, Products, Software & systems , Standards & regulations , Strategies, Supply chain, Sustainability paradox, Sustainable Europe , Teamwork

PVC is a plastic everyone is trying to replace now due to toxicity of chlorine in the product. We were surprised to see the Okala mPts values were so low. Just wondering if you have any feedback on this?

By Philip White on May 31, 2009

First, let’s take a look at the values that Okala assigns to Polyvinyl chloride polymer (PVC), then I’ll comment on those results.

Material Unit Okala mPts. CO2 eq. lbs.
Polyvinl chloride (PVC) lb 50.402 1.962
Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) lb 31.297 2.128
Polycarbonate (PC) lb 106.55 7.617

PVC is potentially problematic on a number of levels, as is discussed in the Okala design guide.

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Designers , Life cycle assessment, Manufacturing , Materials & processes, Packaging, Products, Software & systems , Standards & regulations , Strategies, Supply chain

I am trying to do a life cycle assessment (using Okala) of a thermoformed product. Since thermoformed parts are extruded into sheet before they are thermoformed, should I include Extrusion in my analysis, or is that factored in to the Thermoforming score? Similar questions arise with the injection-molded parison used in blow-molding, etc.

By Philip White on May 31, 2009

The Okala impact factor for thermoformed plastics includes the extrusion of the polymers into rigid (or semi-rigid) sheets and the subsequent thermoforming of the polymer sheet into the finished plastic part. Likewise, the Okala impact factor for blow molding of plastics includes the creation of the parision (usually through injection molding) and the subsequent blow molding of the parison into the finished plastic part. The preliminary steps required in these polymer forming processes is included in the overall Okala impact factor.

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Designers , Life cycle assessment, Manufacturing , Materials & processes, Packaging, Products, Software & systems , Standards & regulations , Strategies, Supply chain

The current fiscal crisis has spawned recent articles about the de-globalization of the world economy and the need to create new mass consumption business models. How might this affect sustainable design?

By Steve Belletire on April 30, 2009

I thank you for asking an important, albeit complex question, so I’ll try to provide some context for my response. The financial crisis has triggered a global recession resulting in the contraction of large consumer economies like that of the US, as growing numbers of people experience job loss along with decreased asset values. These factors have combined to send consumer spending into a downward spiral in many parts of the world, derailing global economic growth plans.

Events are causing some economists to speculate on what a global economy will be like in a ‘post financial crisis’ world. The baseline question is this: will consumers change their spending, savings, and lifestyle habits in fundamental ways over the long term? During the 1930’s, consumption contracted, savings soared, and businesses tried to adjust to fewer discretionary dollars. Today, this model has significant implications for the design profession and for businesses pursuing sustainable design strategies as they try to ponder the future.

In the near-term we are seeing many consumers focusing on value. They are buying fewer ‘things’ beyond essentials, and non-essential purchases are meeting a more stringent evaluation of the value proposition. That’s good news for stores like Wal-Mart. This consumption model impacts medium- to higher-end goods most, resulting in fewer discretionary purchases. Many consumers are saying one of three things: “What I have is good enough; I can live without that; or, I really don’t need so much.”

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Certifications & labeling, Designers , Electronics, Marketing, Packaging, Products, Standards & regulations , Strategies, Sustainable Europe

Are biologically-derived materials always best? i.e., are materials derived from plant sources more environmentally friendly than materials derived from (fossil fuel) petroleum?

By Philip White on February 28, 2009

Designers (in the various design professions) should not assume this generalization about biomaterials to be true. In many cases, plant-derived materials are more renewable and can be more ecologically responsible than petroleum-derived materials. In many other cases, however, plant-derived materials can be more resource intensive and/or more ecologically damaging than their petroleum-derived counterparts.

Let’s look at grocery bags as an example. We’ve compared six grocery bag alternatives, listed below. The bag materials are listed with a manufacturing method, the number of time it's used, the approximate weight of bags needed to carry 20 lbs of groceries, and the assumed waste distribution at the end of the life of the bag. The functional unit is Okala impacts (in millipoints) per delivery of one cycle of 20 lbs of groceries.

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Certifications & labeling, Designers , Life cycle assessment, Manufacturing , Marketing, Materials & processes, Packaging, Products, Strategies, Supply chain, Sustainability paradox, Teamwork

I am an industrial design student and I am learning about the problems with consumerism and the environment. It makes me wonder if I am in the wrong profession. Can you give me some advice?

By Louise St. Pierre on January 31, 2009

Thank you for that timely and important question. Assuming that you are studying industrial design because it is your passion, I can offer: Fourteen reasons why, in a time of ecological crisis, we need industrial designers more than ever.

1. A maturing profession
The industrial design profession has redefined itself numerous times over the past half-decade in response to cultural shifts, and is now integrating sustainable design thinking and methodologies. This growth is evident in recent conferences, journals and pledges such as The Designer’s Accord. As designers, we are doing important work, and you can help.

2. Good design is an imperative
Poor design results in waste that we cannot afford. Every poorly designed object will be underutilized, broken or discarded sooner than a well-designed object. Bring on the good industrial designers!

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Designers , Packaging, Products, Strategies, Supply chain, Teamwork

Question: With so many companies jumping on the ‘green bandwagon,’ what governmental agencies or industry groups are working to keep them honest?

By Steve Belletire on November 30, 2008

It should come as no surprise that surveys of consumers indicate a strong desire for verifiable green marketing claims. For the past two years claims of ‘green marketing’ have expanded to a point where consumers have become overloaded regarding such marketing claims. Recent consumer marketing data confirms the skepticism related to this overload.

In July of 2008 the Gandalf Group spoke with 1500 adult Canadians about their views and attitudes regarding the impact of environmental issues. The responses indicate that design teams and marketers need to pay greater attention to consumer attitudes if they hope to connect with consumers concerning ecodesign strategies.

The results:

  • Most Canadians say there are so many conflicting claims about the environment that they’re not sure what to believe.
  • Canadians overwhelmingly want regulation and labeling to clear up the confusion. They want to know:
    • What is just a marketing ploy?
    • What is legitimately environmentally friendly?
  • Eighty-five percent of Canadians want standards enforced on producers and labeling that certifies and explains terms such as organic, low emissions, and green.
  • Two-thirds of Canadians say the term “green” has been used so much that it doesn’t have much meaning for them anymore when a company claims it.1

Confirming these attitudes in the U.S., an Ipsos Reid study conducted in the spring of 2008 indicated that at the time, seven in ten Americans either strongly or somewhat agreed that when companies call a product ’green‘ it is usually just a ‘marketing tactic.’ U.S. consumers, the study reports, seem to be wary of firms who label products as ‘green’ or ‘environmentally friendly.’2

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Certifications & labeling, Designers , Electronics, Marketing, Packaging, Products, Standards & regulations , Strategies, Sustainable Europe

I’m responsible for new product development in a small company in the housewares product industry. We design our products, but all are manufactured in Asia. We’re getting pressure from retailer partners to reduce packaging content and all potentially hazardous substances. We’re also considering developing new products that we can position as having environmental benefits. Can the Okala methodology help us integrate these various issues?

By Steve Belletire on September 30, 2008

The short answer is, “yes.” Here’s the longer version:

This question addresses supply chain and distribution issues impacting most companies in the US and around the world. As the Pacific Rim and China have come to dominate many sectors for manufactured goods, these countries have struggled to keep up with external and internal agency and material safety standards.

Recent headlines about pet food and toothpaste reveal only the tip of this iceberg. And we only need to look to Wal-Mart to understand the pressure their suppliers are under to comply with their packaging scorecard program, and now their electronic scorecard initiative.

Wal-Mart Packaging Scorecard Metrics
GHG/CO2 per ton of production 15%
Material value 15%
Product/package ratio 15%
Cube utilization 15%
Transportation 10%
Recycled content 10%
Recovery value 10%
Renewable energy 5%
Innovation 5%

Wal-mart and other major retailers are attempting to polish their ‘green credentials’ in an effort to offer their customers more environmentally responsible choices. So we’ll look at how Okala can help your company connect these 21st century business dots.

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Designers , Life cycle assessment, Manufacturing , Materials & processes, Packaging, Products, Strategies, Supply chain, Teamwork

I am a proponent of extending product lifetimes, but it is sometimes hard to justify to clients. Can you give me some suggestions for helping clients understand the value of this approach?

By Louise St. Pierre on September 30, 2008

Explaining the environmental benefits of product longevity is pretty simple. For instance, as long as the impacts of the product during its use phase stay constant, then doubling the product lifetime usually cuts the impacts in half. It is easy to run the numbers and produce the charts that demonstrate the reduced environmental impacts that result from extending product life. It is a bit more challenging to help a client realize how this approach might benefit their bottom line.

Designers have been helping clients understand the economic value of good design for decades. Since much of the work of extending product lifetime equates to good design, we can tap into our own experience when it comes to educating others about longevity.

For instance, many years ago, when I idealistically began my design career, I was involved in designing a multi-bit screwdriver. The client’s innovation allowed the bits to be securely organized in the handle without rattling. I confess to being a bit disenchanted to be working on something so, well….unexciting. I left to take another position before the first prototype came back from manufacture.

Several years later, I encountered the resulting product, and was forced to reassess my view of design, for here was a product that asserted simple quality. Someone had followed through on the manufacturing; the screwdriver was built to high tolerances, and from quality materials. The handle opened easily, and clicked shut with a satisfying thunk. The screwdriver had a solid heft, and didn’t rattle annoyingly, unlike other multi-bits of the day. I promptly bought them as gifts for all of my family. Eighteen years later, all of them still have and use this product (except for one brother, who lost his). Meanwhile, the client (MegaPro) and design firm (Karo and then White Box Design) developed an ongoing relationship that has since taken the product through several iterations – including the contractor’s version and the kitchen drawer version – which expand the product’s market reach without rendering prior models obsolete.

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Designers , Life cycle assessment, Manufacturing , Marketing, Packaging, Products, Software & systems , Strategies