Abstract
This paper examines current eco-design approaches that focus upon eco-efficiency strategies. It attempts to demonstrate how such strategies are failing to address the emergent issues of unsustainable consumption and are the cause of environmental ‘rebound effects’. This paper considers the importance of behavioural factors as a key to stemming unsustainable consumption. The transition from designing eco-efficient to eco-effective products and systems is considered. Design practice and methodologies are explored as a means to engage with these important issues. How do we engage designers and clients to go deeper and consider the cumulative context of product design and social/environmental issues? The paper will be supplemented with a range of case studies and products to illustrate methods, systems and examples that advance sustainable consumption.
Citation
Park, M. (2004) Design for Sustainable Consumption., in Redmond, J., Durling, D. and de Bono, A (eds.), Futureground - DRS International Conference 2004, 17-21 November, Melbourne, Australia. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2004/researchpapers/42
Design for Sustainable Consumption.
This paper examines current eco-design approaches that focus upon eco-efficiency strategies. It attempts to demonstrate how such strategies are failing to address the emergent issues of unsustainable consumption and are the cause of environmental ‘rebound effects’. This paper considers the importance of behavioural factors as a key to stemming unsustainable consumption. The transition from designing eco-efficient to eco-effective products and systems is considered. Design practice and methodologies are explored as a means to engage with these important issues. How do we engage designers and clients to go deeper and consider the cumulative context of product design and social/environmental issues? The paper will be supplemented with a range of case studies and products to illustrate methods, systems and examples that advance sustainable consumption.