Design and Make Sustainable Products

Are you a designer interested in designing more sustainable products? Is your company looking at green product design? This article explores the various sustainable design principles that have been developed over the years, which designers can adopt and apply in their work.

Designers and manufacturers can design and make sustainable products and packaging that are durable and non-toxic, use less materials and resources during its entire life cycle, and which can be reused, repaired or recycled.

To eliminate the concept of waste means to design things – products, packaging and systems – from the very beginning in the understanding that waste does not exist. – Jonathon Porritt, Capitalism as if the World Matters

Several sustainable design and product principles have been developed over the years and we look at some of them below:

1. Biomimicry
2. Cradle to Cradle
3. Design for the Environment
4. Life Cycle Assessment
5. The Natural Step
6. Other Resources

If you’re a designer or manufacturer, learn and adopt these sustainable principles in your product or packaging. Read more

BCA and UNEP Establish a Centre on Sustainable Buildings in SE Asia [Press Releases]

(18 October 2011 – Paris/Singapore) The Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have joined forces in the fight against climate change. The two organizations finalized an agreement to collaborate on work to promote and establish sustainable building policies and practices in the Southeast Asia region. On 14 September, at the International Green Building Conference 2011, held during Singapore Green Building Week, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed, formalizing cooperation between BCA and UNEP to provide policy advice and outreach activities related to sustainable resource management in the building sector.

The agreement between UNEP and BCA formally established BCA’s Centre for Sustainable Buildings as a “Centre Collaborating with UNEP” to assist in developing tools, approaches and support to countries in the region in a coordinated effort to elevate sustainable solutions in the building sector. Through identification of successful policies, strategies and technologies at the regional and national levels, BCA will support the propagation of sustainability in the building sector in Southeast Asia. Read more

Young leaders learn about the Green Economy at the World Leadership Conference

Young leaders from across the Asia Pacific region learn about the Green Economy from a UNEP representative this morning at the World Leadership Conference 2011 in Singapore.

The World Leadership Conference (WLC) 2011 is held in Singapore from 13 – 15 July, and is a platform for young leaders all over the Asia Pacific region to come together, learn about environmental issues, and take action towards a sustainable future. The Organising Committee of the conference is made up of volunteers from Singapore’s non-profit youth environmental group, Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore), and is truly an event spearheaded by youths for youths.

The WLC 2011 comprises of a Knowledge track, where the youths can learn about themes such as Green Economy to Eradicate Poverty, Energy for a Low Carbon Future, and Sustainable Development Governance. The conference would also provide a platform for the youths to discuss and craft a document to be submitted in the upcoming Rio+20 Summit in 2012. Read more