Sustainability and Design
There’s no doubt that humans are destroying this planet. We are doing it now thanks to an “upgrade culture” created which exists due to our desire for the latest and greatest. Becoming so materialistic, particularly in the Western world, has meant that more and more “stuff” is being needlessly bought because it is wanted, not because it is needed.
The planet is becoming overpopulated and resources are being used inefficiently. As society has advanced, the use of natural resources has increased alongside a rapid population growth. This puts a strain on finite resources and is causing the planet great harm. So much so that according to Watts (2018) we only have 12 years left to limit the global temperature rise and stop catastrophic damage to the planet.
Masses of single-use plastics finds its way out to the ocean and collects over time. There is a spot between California and Hawaii, named the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is around three times the size of France (The Ocean Cleanup, n.d.) which is filled with plastic.
As designers, we have a responsibility to educate the public in order to seek support for change. This change will also happen if we think more responsibly about designing products which limit environmental harm. An emphasis should now be put on creating things which are sustainable, such as this children’s chair made entirely from old children’s toys. Admittedly, only so much can be done as individuals with the top 100 companies in the world creating 71% of greenhouse gas emissions (Chapman, 2017). But we should continue to push for change and take personal responsibility wherever we can.
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Watts, J. (2018). We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report [Accessed 8 Oct. 2018].
The Ocean Cleanup. (n.d.). The Great Pacific Garbage Patch — The Ocean Cleanup. [online] Available at: https://www.theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/ [Accessed 28 Sep. 2018].
Chapman, B. (2017). Just 100 companies are ‘responsible for 71% of global greenhouse gas emissions’. [online] The Independent. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/100-companies-responsible-71-per-cent-greenhouse-gas-emissions-global-warming-climate-change-shell-a7834031.html [Accessed 28 Sep. 2018].
