Question #1
Besides styrofoam, what products do you think are causing the most damage to the ecosystemthat would greatly reduce waste by designing its packaging to biodegrade after use? Such new and innovative packaging may cause a rise in product price, how do you think the public would react?
Question #2
The book talks about designing for “mass” customization. This would allow consumers to select products adapted for their localized area. This would lead to many benefits, but it could also give the consumer a confusingly large array of choices and potentially make products from different areas incompatible. Do you think American consumers would be open to this solution, and if not, what could we do as designers to make this solution more appealing?
Question #3
The principle of “food equals waste” is mentioned several times in the book. This refers to the processing of sweage by natural means, using plants and animals that feed off of and purify the sewage. This would mean that the process of sewage treatment would be much more out in the open. In this country we try to get our waste as far away from us as possible. How could this be overcome to get America to accept a “waste equals food” model of sewage treatment?
February 21, 2009 at 8:22 pm
In response to question one, I think plastics need to be made biodegradable. So much of are products are either made of plastic or packaged in plastic. If plastics could just be thrown away, even on the ground, and become useful to other organisms would reduce much of the waste problem society has. This would cause a rise in the price of products. I think if all plastic goods became biodegradable and that was the only option people would have to pay the extra money but after awhile I hope people would see the benefits of the improvement of the product. I think people, especially those who aren’t eco-friendly, would be mad about the rise in product prices. People who aren’t concerned about the what impact products have on the environment wouldn’t see why products need to be biodegradable and not understand the positive effect it has on the environment and not want to pay extra for the improved products.
February 21, 2009 at 8:49 pm
In response to question 3: I noticed how the book points out that a “waste equals food” system seems to grab the attention of farmers the most because their desire for access to purified water and nutrients that are helpful to their crops for farming. I thought that it would be most effective to emphasize the benefits of this approach to sewage treatment by first targeting the interest of farmers. If we can get farmers engaged in the potential of this system, perhaps the American people will be more accepting of the idea of the “waste equals food” system.
The book also mentions a community in Indiana that stores solids from sewage in tanks underground in the winters and then, in the summer, transports it to an outdoor garden where organisms can thrive off the nutrients of the waste. I thought this was a very effective way of dealing with a problem that also reaps benefits such as quality drinking water and the joy of a healthy garden.
I think the main problem is that people are simply uninformed about these new and innovative methods that are so beneficial to our environment. I think that when people begin to actually learn about the possibilities that are out there promoting sustainability they will we willing to become part of the positive change we need.
February 22, 2009 at 4:15 am
I agree with Sarah. That’s the first thing that I thought of upon reading the first question. Plastic is used for so many things, just imagine how nice it would be if it was biodegradable. It also has many dangerous toxins in it, which is rather gross thinking about how most bottles we drink out of are made of plastic. I think if consumers were informed about how harmful plastic was not only to the environment, but to them, they wouldn’t mind paying the extra few bucks to make up for it.
February 22, 2009 at 6:38 pm
I have to agree with Sarah that plastics should be more biodegradable. It seems like there is plastic being used for a lot of things such as food storage and household odds and ends, if we find a way that would increase the safeness of using plastics that wouldn’t harm the environment then I don’t think the people would mind to much about it potentially costing more. Also, the new plastics could have a note on them saying something about even though were are more expensive, we are helping out the future.
In reference to question 3, I think that the idea of using that way of processing the sewage would be more beneficial to us as a society. Instead of having all the waste pile up and continue to pile up, I think we could have more commercials showing what the waste is like here and then show how other countries do it with the process discussed in the question and maybe it would begin to hit home with people and they would want to make a change for the good.
February 23, 2009 at 1:08 am
I also agree about plastics being biodegradable. With how much our economy relies on plastics in packaging, cars, and many other things, making them biodegradable would be an extremely good idea. Our economy relies too much on things that eventually get thrown away, and plastic sits in dumps forever, and causes harm to the environment, and to animals as well. If it were made biodegradable, it could possibly be made to give back to the environment, when nothing was taken from the environment to make it.
In response to question number 3, my uncle works for a sewage company in Indiana, and his company has made many efforts to keep their methods of disposal to a way which would benefit the environment. Everything we have can be thrown away, and with so much food getting put to waste, there has to be a better way of disposal. I think that storing it and then using it for fertilizer is a prime example. It’s giving to an earth which we take so much from everyday.
February 23, 2009 at 1:28 am
Question #1
Besides Styrofoam, what products do you think are causing the most damage to the ecosystem that would greatly reduce waste by designing its packaging to biodegrade after use? Such new and innovative packaging may cause a rise in product price, how do you think the public would react?
In response to question one, I thought about what we use to package items and I came up with plastic, cardboard and bubble rap. I must agree with everyone that plastic is the biggest problem but I am going to attack bubble rap. In addition to packaging bubble rap is also used in padded envelopes and these envelopes are otherwise biodegradable. Also it renders them un-recyclable to my knowledge. I also believe that we must find an alternative product for packaging no matter if it cost more. I found one of the possible solutions being the biodegradable carbohydrate peanuts. They are shaped exactly like Styrofoam packaging peanuts and if you put them in the sink with water, they dissolve and smell like cheerios (I have seen it happen).
I believe we should figure out why we are always having to pay more for green products.
In response to question three I would make t-shirts and bumper stickers with the slogan
“We’re the only species that hates the feces!”
My dog eats it, monkeys throw it around and we want it out of our sight immediately. Hahah sorry I had to share that… see everyone tomorrow.
February 23, 2009 at 3:24 am
1. I feel a very damaging type of material is plastic because it is everywhere and never dissolves. Knowing this fact upsets most because they no most people don’t care and just throw plastic in oceans and other habitats where animals dwell.The plastic fools the animals and they eat it and choke on it causing them to die.Though this is a problem I feel a majority of people would disagree with cost rising on the production of more eco-friendly packaging because they aren’t worried about how to get more eco-friendly packaging there more interest in how to get new jobs.
I feel one possible way a designer could be successful at relaying this idea is to create packaging that could be utilized again in a very useful manner.
2. I feel that creating for a localized area would be very difficult and to vast for Americans to even want to interact.I feel a designer could make this idea appealing or even except able in any sense by creating a type of “adapter” that would allow consumers of an area to utilize another localized areas product.
3. I feel this would be very difficult to do in a majority of areas in the U.S.A because many people do not agree with change once they get use to something. I feel this would only be allowed by a particular demographic which once again would not be as vast as those that do not want to change. I truly feel that though I feel that this would be difficult to set in concrete that it is worth it because our world is getter worse as the days go by.
February 23, 2009 at 3:33 am
Question One
I am going to agree with the majority of the responses and say that plastics are causing the most damage. Plastics have way too many bad chemicals that we dont even need to be dealing with as humans. We use it for almost everything and yet we dont know how to properly discard it after use. So, if plastic were made biodegradable than we would be helping our environment tremendously. The products prices would definitely rise, however after we would cycle out the old plastic, there would be no doubt that the positive effect on the earth and our ecosystems would be worth it.
February 23, 2009 at 3:41 am
In response to question one, plastics are causing the most damage to the ecosystem. I agree with the idea of making the plastic to be biodegradable. But it may cause a rise in product price, the public wouldn’t choose the new and innovative packaging. Especially the economy is very bad now, people just care about the price. Plastic bags have a large environmental impact, it require at least 40% less energy to make than paper and produce less than half the greenhouse gases. Americans use about 90 billion plastic bags a year. Some countries started control the usage plastic bags. For example Ireland started taxing plastic bags in 2002; within weeks, usage dropped more than 90%, and China’s ban on free plastic bags. I think that’s what we should do in America.
February 23, 2009 at 3:51 am
If we could come up with a way to create a biodegradable packaging that became universal, I think that after awhile the prices of this new product would eventually come down. If you think about it, after a product has been out for awhile the price eventually goes down no matter what the product is. And I think that the use of biodegradable materials would let people not have to think about recycling and being green and they could go about their normal lives without ever having to be that active. That is if companies would want to sacrifice that extra money to purchase biodegradable packaging. Although, that creates a lazy society (not that we aren’t one already) but we have been talking about how to make people aware of what they are throwing away and putting into our ecosystem, well maybe this is a way to get them to help our ecosystem without them knowing.
February 23, 2009 at 4:49 am
1. I agree with Sarah that we need to create biodegradable plastics. It be more easier on people because they don’t have to recycled plastics. The concern that biodegradable plastics cost more. Liz is right that product comes down after a while. There not a lot manufacturers producing biodegradable plastics. I do believe that production will increase.
3. We need to take advantage of plant and animal who feed of sewage than use toxic chemicals. Chemicals in sewage hurt water and plant life. However, Americans are condition to run from the idea of sewage or to make fun of it. Designer could create an idea that make fun of sewage, but has powerful message behind it.
February 23, 2009 at 5:43 am
In response to question one I also agree that plastics are probably causing the most damage to the ecosystem. So many forms of packaging are made with plastics. Plastic packages not only look good and protect the merchandise but also keep the items from being stolen from the store. Would it be possible to make biodegradable plastic? What about paper that is strong enough to take its place? Im sure there are probably ways to develop new packaging that can work well, look good, and be eco-friendly but it is true that it will probably cost a lot more money and research. I don’t think that the public or companies would see it in their best interest to do this unless there was a better way for the packages to be recycled or if it was cheaper.
February 23, 2009 at 5:45 am
Question #1
Besides styrofoam, what products do you think are causing the most damage to the ecosystemthat would greatly reduce waste by designing its packaging to biodegrade after use? Such new and innovative packaging may cause a rise in product price, how do you think the public would react?
I think that it’s always going to be hard to find a replacement packaging material for plastic that is as cost effective. Unfortunately, I think people will not be as willing/able to pay more for a product just because it is better for the environment—and them in the long run. Plastic is used in so many things… It would be great if there was a replacement for plastic that was as versatile as plastic, except without all of the harmfully chemicals in plastic and cheaper to produce.
So everything that is made with plastic needs to be made with an alternative material—or several different kinds of use specific materials—that is as biodegradable and cost effective. There is definitely not an easy solution to replacing this “one size fits all” packaging… but I believe the solution to plastic will require multiple design solutions that are specific to the particular product(s).
February 23, 2009 at 8:50 am
1. I think that plastic and styrofoam are tied for being the biggest culprits in harming our ecosystem, since they are biodegradable. Plastics are in almost every form of packaging from thin battle sheets to thick that it is very hard to open. The thin plastic film is found in most packages to let the consumer view the product but for instance of spaghetti noodles do consumers still need the plastic film to tell us what it looks like. The thick plastic is used for security and protection, but they are other alternatives to those methods. However, business decide to side with the cheapest economic solution they can find which uses plastic a lot. I find it funny when places decide to go green that they may try to use styrofoam products by reducing the amount of energy and water used to wash dishes. What they really should say when they make these decision is they are trying to cut to their bottom line. I think consumers will get mad if prices go up but they will still by the products just look at the price changes of our generation to understand we will still buy the products we need.
2. I think the American consumer shops in two different ways. The first way they want to have the newest fastest and most expensive items on the market. But the second way is Americans want to buy things that are custom to themselves to stand out. Designers would just need to emphasis the unique of a product to gain support of consumers. I think a system of mass customization would allow this individual that consumers demand; however, I think this system has drawbacks. If there is such an array of solutions to a product, I would think more energy, time, and waste would go into making custom items than mass production itself.
3. Well since I am in that mindset also that waste should be as far removed as possible, its hard for me to grasp at an answer to this one. I know that in other cultures waste does equal food but its a hard to imagine that here. I think in todays economy making new sewage plants that could take on the role waste equals, would be welcomed if it brought new jobs and incentives from government of towns who decided to participate in program.