8. Sustainability

8. Sustainability

8.1 Sustainable development

• Triple bottom line sustainability: environmental, economic and social

• Decoupling: disconnecting economic growth and environmental impact so that one no longer depends on the other

• The use of international and national laws to promote sustainable development

• Sustainability reporting

• Product stewardship

8.2 Sustainable consumption

• Consumer attitudes and behaviours towards sustainability: eco-warriors, eco-champions, eco-fans, eco-phobes

• Eco-labelling and energy labelling schemes

• Creating a market for sustainable products: pricing considerations, stimulating demand for green products, production of green products

• Pressure groups

• Lifestyle and ethical consumerism

• Implications of take-back legislation for designers, manufacturers and consumers

8.3 Sustainable design

• Green design versus sustainable design

• Datschefski’s five principles of sustainable design: cyclic, solar, safe, efficient, social

8.4 Sustainable innovation

• Complexity and timescale of sustainable innovation

• Top-down strategies

• Bottom-up strategies

• Government intervention in innovation

• Macro energy sustainability

• Micro energy sustainability

• Energy security