Sustainable Living

Sustainable living involves a balance between ecology, equity and economy. Brud explained it should, "Meet the needs for present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their need", and this can be done by designing with consideration for the future by using materials and processes which will cause the least damage to the planet. For example, collaborating with interdisciplinary fields when designing to make the most effective product. Things like material origin must also be taken into consideration, with more local materials boosting economies as well as saving on delivery emissions. Below are examples of products and positive/ negative aspects of these from a sustainable outlook.

This rechargeable torch may create renewable power, 
however the sourcing of the plastic must be taken into
account. Although it could be recycled, it is probably not
 actually made from recycled materials. The LED's inside 
are more efficient than bulbs which also makes
 it a more sustainable product.

The metal used to create this ring could be
melted down to make something else, however
the energy needed to do this would not be worth
the small amount of metal created. This is
therefore not a sustainable object as a lot
of energy must have been used
to create it alone.

Batteries are a non-renewable form of energy and are
extremely hazardous to the earth if not disposed of
properly. Although a small amount of energy can be
practically created quickly, batteries are not a
sustainable form of energy to continue using
 for future generations.

This jumper was handmade using recycled wool. The
wool was already existing and will bio-degrade in the
future, which makes it a good material. Hopefully the
 jumper will last a long time, making it more
sustainable, however if fashions have changed
and future generations would not want to wear it
the materials are perfect. It also saves on delivery
and factory emissions as it is handmade.

This t-shirt was made from bamboo, which is
a fast growing and renewable material. Although
it is made from natural materials, things we
are not told about such as transportation distances,
fabric dyes and whether they are natural and
other added materials which would affect
biodegradability must be looked at before
calling it sustainable.