Abstract
The designers and architects today are applying sustainability in numerous fields depending on specialty. The buildings and products created today should be self-performing and leave a positive impact on the environment. Sustainable design is possible only with a good thinking process and making sound decisions. The essay intends to focus on the case chosen and show how the sustainable design is the next step for eco-design and enable a more sustainable outcome. All aspects related to sustainable development follow an approach that presents the state of the art overlapping in product design. Eco designed furniture products encourage sustainable design practice by applying sustainability in design. The case study of Recopol™ molded shells for furniture shows how a strong and durable product can be made from the waste of telephone cases. The whole process not only lowers wastage of natural resources and greenhouse gas emissions but also creates jobs in the process.
Introduction
The rising knowledge about the environment and the depleting environmental resources call for sustainable production and a change in consumption patterns. Sustainable Designing can work as a tool for encompassing all criteria of sustainability in the theoretical body to practicality. A through development of specific features, techniques and strategies are essential for the design process.The concept of the case study This case study picked for the essay are the recycled plastics from Telstra end-of-life telecommunications equipment casings. It would be interesting to study the pathway of recycled plastics to finished molded Recopol™ chair shells. The case study is based on using post-consumer recycled content to create a commercially valuable material. Recopol™ shell is a sustainably certified furniture that is made without expensive tooling costs and can be used for a range of furniture frames such as Chairs, Stools, Lounge chair, etc.
Sustainable design philosophy Recycling works at best when making use of post-consumer materials as the resources and energy placed in the initial product are not lost. In fact, making use of them again is like giving them a second life and leaving less burden on the environmental resources. The sustainable design methodology is applied to the furniture industry, and the case study focuses on the crossover between sustainability, design, and furniture. The growing movement of Green architecture and sustainable design encourages the building industry to create more responsibly. The common people need to understand the use of Sustainable Designing in the future architecture and building material. Developing sustainable projects doesn’t mean just focusing on the design excellence, but also its high-performance by incorporating innovative and responsive design strategies.
Sustainable design approaches and process Furniture manufacturers often place an order for shells and molds as per their needs and designs for furniture and upholstery. Thousands of tons of waste are recycled by Telstra end-of-life telephones end-of-life telephones. Recopol™, the collection of waste is made of recyclable items, liquid waste apart from general and hazardous wastes. Removal of waste and its recycling lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Recopol™ chairs molds are strong and durable, based on their proprietary method. In order to get the right flow, strength and surface finish in the mold blends as carbon black is often added (Preston, 2008).
The whole process starts from the skips of telephone cases collected and awaiting processing. The phone cases are conveyed up to the shredder with the help of a forklift that empties the skips in the feed shredding. The shredder Chips of ABS get collected in bags at the other end and later used for creating the Rabbit chair shell mold that is ready for upholstery. Those furniture shells can be created and shaped without expensive tooling costsSustainable elements and features ABS or Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-S is the plastic commonly seen in consumer electrical goods and car bumper bars. Thermoplastics can be melted and solidified. ABS is a valuable material, and it can be collected and recycled. Recycled ABS is used for creating furniture shells and molds of a different shapes and sizes. The ABS plastic in the case study gets generated from redundant and faulty telephones throughout Australia. The phones get delivered to a main Telstra site where they get dismantled, separating the plastic from the PVC wire and PCB board. ABS off-cuts are sent for chipping and then for molding to create Whole chair shells. As ABS carries a high strength, the moldings can be disassembled and recycled again. The furniture shells carry the right curves and features to assist upholstery and framing while reducing the volume of materials to be used. Recopol™ shells are durable and lightweight and ideal for tropical environments as the material is resistant to moisture and molds. Moreover, it can be re-used endless times and create new furniture styles.Environmental, Social, Economic consideration Recycling is the main concept in the above case of creating molded Recopol™chair shells. Reusing the plastic helps to reduce the waste of potentially useful materials. It helps in modern waste management with a lowering in the consumption of raw materials and energy. Responsible recycling creates a better environment. The above process of recycling is a good example of conserving a valuable Resource, lowering waste as well as improve labor productivity while providing a cleaner workplace environment. The efforts help to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Recopol™ moldings help make two key environmental improvements; one is by displacing wood particle board products and thus addressing indoor air quality. Secondly, it redeems waste ABS that is destined to land in a landfill and thus helps in reducing waste (Preston, 2008).
Recycling industry has become an essential and inclusive agent in society, today, as it provides a unique opportunity to support the environment and conserve its resources. Moreover, the approach and efforts create meaningful employment in the community, especially for the socially and physically challenged groups. Environmental Management and Recycling System commits to local production of sustainable products. Furniture designers and manufacturers find the Recopol™ shell excellent for internal framing of their furniture. This is certainly a smarter, safer and cleaner frame for upholstered furniture. Recycling engineering grade plastic shells minimize waste generated, reduces labor production and replaces timber framing. As the Engineering grade plastics take years to break down in a landfill, making use of these plastics to create practical and durable products reduces waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
References
Preston, T. (2008). Recopol™ Recycled Plastic Case Study:The recycling loop from phone to chair shells. Recopol™ case study v1.0, 1(1), 1–8.
