Audit - Wayne

Audit

In an attempt to investigate how well the university art, media and design faculty performs from an environmentally responsible perspective our group has carried out an audit. We felt that the key areas to investigate were:

·         Energy – what, if any, energy saving practices are in place?

·         Consumables – How does the university try to minimize its environmental impact with its use of materials such as paper, printing and the workshops?

·         Recycling – How well does the university perform with recycling materials?

As our focus was on the AMD faculty my primary target was the graphic design studio and the facilities associated with it. I found that under the energy saving category this area performs badly; in fact the Henrion building consumes the most energy on campus.

This is hardly surprising considering the large amount of electrical equipment being used in the building however I think the following changes could improve the situation greatly:

·         Increasing the amount of natural light – The graphic design studio for example is permanently lit with artificial lighting; vast amounts of strip lights are used for this purpose which for most days of the year shouldn’t need to be turned on at all.  By changing the glass used in the roofing for example would increase how much light comes into the room; currently the glass isn’t fully transparent, blocking much of the suns light.

Further improvements could also be made by changing the layout of the studio, currently the exterior wall has the crit rooms against it, moving these to the opposite side of the room and installing windows down this end of the building would no doubt increase lighting.

Other than saving energy by removing the need for permanent lights this would have the added benefit of making the studio more pleasant with natural sunlight shining into the room and for many days of the year making it better lit than it is now.

·         Turning off lighting – the studio will always need to be well lit, so lighting is still essential, however energy could be saved by installing motion sensors that will automatically turn off the lights when no one is in the room, this would mean no energy being wasted lighting the room when no one is using it.

·         Heating – another change I would investigate more would be how the temperature is controlled within the studio, this would take the form of trying to improve the insulation of the room; for example there is no ceiling to speak of in the studio room, all heat within the room simply rises and leaks into the rest of the building, containing the room would improve this.

I would also suggest looking at how the room is heated during winter months, perhaps having a timer system would mean the room is not being heated when it is not being used, the same system could be used during summer months for the air conditioning.

Recycling - Even though I have noticed that we have recycling bins in our room for paper there doesn't seem to be any for any other materials. Since we are graphic design students we use a number of different materials for our projects from card to plastic. When we finish with these materials we end up throwing them in the normal bin in the room when we could be throwing them in the allotted recycling bin if there was one. I think this should be taken into consideration considering how much card and plastic we throw away not only for projects but at lunch to in the classroom there are a lot of bottles that can be recycled along with sweet wrappers and cardboard sandwhich boxes. These are the reasons why I think recycling should be upgraded in Henrion building and throughout the university

·         Electronic Equipment – finally, the studio is home to several desktop computers and a printer, in order to save electricity and save energy I would like to see these being switched off when they aren’t being used – or if this is not feasible, setting up a sleep mode that would initiate after a period of inactivity.

 Audit Continued - Jordan

·       Paper Sustainability - One aspect of studio work, which is not sustainable, is throwing away paper cut-offs and any paper with unused work or designs on it. This could be improved by reusing as much paper as possible or recycling it however the main reason this happens in the studio is because of convenience. If recycling was convenient and there was a designated place to put paper/card for recycling close to or in the studio this would improve this issue. Most students don’t want to carry around useless pieces of scrap paper along with everything else until they can recycle it or waste time doing it whilst working. This fits into the recycling audit discussed earlier in the audit.

·       Printing - Printing also affects the environment because of the chemicals used in inks and considering the amount of things printed throughout the course this is another aspect that affects the environment and the sustainability of the University. There are also ways we could improve this such as limiting the amount of printing we do or the size we print on to. We could also use inks which are less damaging to the environment. 

Roll-Out Veg Mat

I found a design for a roll-out veg mat by Chris Chapman. "Home food production can be strenuous work, often taking hours of labour to set up and maintain. This aspect of home horticulture was one of the main complaints of large unit families who have little or no spare time throughout their day. What was needed was a simple, fun solution which could encourage families and individuals to grow there own food saving them money and of course the environment. The final design solution was a simple nutriant enriched corrugated cardboard seed mat. Each season a new mat becomes available for purchase, allowing individuals to produce a constant year round harvest of fresh home grown vegetables with little labour time and minimal effort."

 

 I quite like the idea, first off I like how everything is pretty much layed out for you in an easy and clear way to understand. And I think its pretty cool that a new roll comes out every new season so that the consumer has a variety of things that grow in different climates throughout the year. It's quite interactive so the whole family can get involved which I think this product is aimed at and its environmentally friendly because it is made out of recyclable material.

 

 Here is the website : http://www.packagingoftheworld.com/2010/01/roll-out-veg-mat.html

By Hakim

Here! Sod Air Asia

I came across this really cool t-shirt packaging design from Here! Sod for Air Asia. The design has won the gold award from the Pentawards.

In my opinion I quite like the design the way its packaged looks like an aeroplane and when the package is opened the wings turn into a hanger. The packaging itself helps the consumer because if they dont have any hangers left the product comes with one so you don't have to worry. I also like the simple design on the t-shirt it reminds me of a manga style comicthe way it is drawn.

here is the link to the website : http://www.packagingoftheworld.com/2011/03/here-sod-air-asia.html

By Hakim

Nike Reuse a Shoe

an interesting concept that I hadnt heard of until now is the Nike "Reuse a Shoe" drive, where they encourage you to drop off your old worn out shoes at designated sites word wide that are then reused and recycled into "Nike Grind" a raw material used to make something new – like courts, running tracks, playgrounds, synthetic turf infill and even new Nike products.

I like this idea as its from a large worldwide business with considerable brand power, when someone like Nike push an idea it is bound to create a lot of attention and following which in this instance can only be a good thing.

Since the program was started Nike have collected 25 million pairs of shoes to be reused 

http://nikereuseashoe.co.uk/

Wayne

60BAG

'60BAG' is made out of flax-viscose fabric, which is produced with flax finer industrial waste meaning that it doesn't use any natural resources and requires minimal energy during production. This innovative material allows the bag to naturally decompose 60 days after being discarded, therefore they don't require being recycled (which can be expensive) or require disposal in landfills.

Website: http://www.60bag.com/

By Jordan

Eco paper made from elephant poo

A big problem for anyone in the design industry to become more sustainable and environmentally responsible is the amount of paper they consume. One option would be to go down the recycled paper route - but how about choosing a paper stock that is wholly organic?

Thats exactly what this product is, created from Elephant poo this paper is completely tree free and in fact will surely have a positive impact on its immediate environment since it removes dung waste and turns it into really nice paper stock.

Its certainly quirky and a talking point if you were to use it but I think it is a fantastic idea, the final product has a really nice look to it that in many ways is nicer than clean white papers.

Wayne

Dell Bamboo Packaging

Computer Brand Dell have recently started to us bamboo to package and protect some of their portable devices. Bamboo is a very sustainable resource due to its fast growth rate of around a metre in 24 hours. Dell say that by the end of 2012 two-thirds of their portable device products will be shipped in bamboo.

Website: http://content.dell.com/us/en/gen/d/corp-comm/bamboo-packaging

By Jordan

Reusing Books

Paper may well be recyclable, but why recycle something when you can reuse something in a new creative way? After all recycling uses energy whereas reusing something could end up increasing its value. That is exactly the concept used here by design firm "Atelier Bom Design". They have taken old books and turned them into delicate lampshades and lighting, and at 325 euros a piece they certainly have added value!

Wayne

Print House Corporation

The FSC certified Print House Corporation in London is a company which focuses on solving and offering solutions to environmental issues relating to printing. They do this by:

- Printing on recycled paper and encouraging clients to do this, or use certified materials.

- Using printing presses powered by renewable energy, purchasing electricity on a 'renewable' tariff.

- Using print inks made from vegetable waste.

- Using alcohol free printing presses.

- Having all products delivered by hybrid couriers.

- Up to date presses meaning that less waste is produced in set up and production.

Website: http://www.printhouse.co.uk/company/
By Jordan

Eco Luggage/Totes

Designed by Russell Stephanchick this set of products are made our of recycled cardboard. The idea is that the when they become worn the user can put them back into the recycling system. This is a good concept for a set of products, however because of the nature of luggage and totes I don't think the materials are appropriate. Most people want things they would put into luggage or totes to be protected, and be able to withstand rain and so on, but these products may not last a very long time.

Website: http://russellstephanchick.com/graphic_design.php?p=2

By Jordan

Eco/Techno Polo Shirts

Eco-friendly packaging for Lacoste designed by Mind Design in collaboration with Tom Dixon. This is what Mind Design had to say about the project:
“In collaboration with Tom Dixon we worked on the branding and packaging for two very different types of polo shirts commissioned by Lacoste. The most eco-friendly way to package a shirt was not to print on the packaging at all but use embossing instead. For the techno polo we designed a speaking label that plays Tom’s voice at the push of a button – very techno.” 


I like the idea of embossing the text/design onto the packaging rather than using any ink at all, most eco-friendly packaging uses inks with less or no chemicals at all, this is a new way of looking at it and the embossed design would have no effects on the environment.


By Jordan

VerTerra Compostable Tableware

VerTerra is a sustainable single-use collection of plates and tableware. The collection was inspired by plates used at roadside stands in India. The unique tableware is created using only fallen palm leaves and water. Each piece is 100% compostable and can also be used in the microwave or freezer. All of the pieces can be thrown out into the garden if used or wanted and after around 60 days the product will completely compost.

http://www.verterra.com/

By Jordan

We Eco

WeEco is a design company that creates eco-friendly CD and DVD packaging solutions such as the CD WowWallet. WowWallet is made out of FSC accredited board and printed with vegetable based inks.

It is printed using lithographic print, such as in above image, weEco also offer short-run WowWallets which can be printed digitally or produced on brown, recycled stock with a die-cut window on the front panel which displays a printed booklet inside.

www.weeco.co.uk

By Jordan

Eco Christmas Tree

Australian graphic designers Buro North have created a plywood Christmas tree which is “80% more environmentally friendly” than a traditional fir or spruce tree. It comes flat-packed in a variety of three sizes and can be used year after year.

It is made with environmentally aware ingredients, they are CNC routered (a low-energy production technique) with waste material minimised by design, the flat-packed tree is emissions-efficient to transport and the most sustainable feature of the ‘Green’ tree is that you can use it for many Christmases to come.

Personally, I don't think the plywood tree will ever replace the traditional Christmas tree for the majority. There are many reasons I think this one being that apart from the shape the plywood tree looks nothing like a Christmas tree and has a much more cold feel about it. The concept is good and potentially could be a huge step towards helping the environment considering the waste produced by Christmas trees year on year. 


By Jordan

Eco-Friendly Chinese Take-Out

I found this clever design designed by JoAnn Arello for chinese take-aways. It Focuses on sustainability, which also eliminates the need for a plastic bag. For multiple orders, hook carrying strings into the diecut design of the one on top of it. Holds up to three entrees.

I like how the design is made because the of the diecut design and how easy it is to carry. on the blog it shows a step by step guide on how to use it and assemble everything inside. The design itself is quite simple and the boxes themselves are recyclable.

 

What the box looks like inside. 

 

Divider is glued to the bottom of box allowing for the nesting of other boxes.

 Step 1: Pull upwards and seperate the two loose divider tabs. 

Step 2: Fill with main dish and sides.

Step3: Place the removable tray ontop on divider which 1 inch below the top of the box . Extra thermail insulation, and a space where utensils and condiments can be stored eliminates the need for an external plastic carrying bag. 

Step 4: Close and go.

Here is the website for more information : http://www.packagingoftheworld.com/2011/10/eco-friendly-chinese-take-out.html

By Hakim

Sennheiser Eco-Friendly Packaging

I came across some eco-friendly packaging for the Sennheiser CX 300 ear phones. The packaging is made from cardboard and is 100% recyclable - no nasty plastic clam shell to clog up land fills.

I quite like this idea because most electrical appliances when bought are vaccum packed in plastic and it is a pain to try and get it out. I also like how the design is ismple and sleek and it can be recycled after it is thrown away.

 
Heres the link to the website: http://design-muse.blogspot.co.uk/2008/04/eco-friendly-packaging.html

By Hakim

Hangerpak

While looking through some blogs online I came across a design created by a student named Steve Haslip which is a box that also acts as a hanger. He came up with this idea because when orders t-shirts online they always came to him wrinkled and he would always run out of coat hangers. So by killing two birds with one stone he came up with a solution.  

So he designed a sustainable, reusable way to send and keep your t-shirts. As you open the package you create a coat hanger. The packaging could be made from recycled material whether it is card or plastic and the only waste is the green tear-away tab.This project won a FIRST prize in the D&AD Student Awards 2007 category 'What else do you do?'. 

 

 

In my opinion I like the idea for years coat hangers have been synonymous with plastic and metal wiring making it out of card is a step foward to future of saving the environment. I like the sleek design he has created for the hanger as well as the self assembly required to make the hanger from the box, which means the box doesn't just get thrown away and this way you know that you will never run out of coat hangers.

This is  the website : http://www.packagingoftheworld.com/2009/04/hangerpak.html 

By Hakim 

PepsiCo Eco-Cup

Following up from my post on the PepsiCo PET bottle, PepsiCo has also created a range of eco-cups "The range includes five designs which, between them, use a variety of compostable and recyclable products in their construction. One features a clear plastic mix with a 20 per cent recycled material concentration, while another's manufactured from plant-based raw materials sources from sustainable forest areas". All cup designs have the green tree logo on them to show that it is eco friendly the PepsiCo eco-cups also display data relating to waste management, advising the public to follow the guidance issued online by environmental firm Earth911.com when it comes to throwing them away.

My opinion on this idea is pretty much the same as the one I wrote about on their previous product the PET bottle. I like how the cups have a QR code on them that when scanned takes you to the Earth911.com website which tells you how to dispose of it. I like the design on the logo i think its very eye catching simple and stylish. The plastic mix cup seems more re-usable than the other one in the picture which means you could keep it for a long time. I like how pepsi has gone on to create a whole range of eco friendly cups and bottles out of things we use everyday that will help the environment.

Here is the link to the website: http://www.packaging-int.com/news/pepsico-eco-cup--environmentally-friendly-packaging.html

By Hakim

PepsiCo PET bottle

I stumbled upon an eco friendly design that PepsiCo had created which claims to be the world's first 100% plant based, renewably sourced PET bottle. Pepsi's green bottle is made from bio-based raw materials like switch grass, pine bark and corn husks.

In my opinion I like this inovation of using the raw materials around us like orange peels and potato peels instead of using recycled cardboard and plastics. Its an organic approach to a problem that is a big problem in the UK when it comes to recycling materials. This is a wise investment for beverage companies worldwide who are wishing to avoid themeselves from using PET plastic made from fossil fuels.

The pilot production of this bottle is set to start in 2012, and if successful Pepsi will move to directly putting it in to full scale production.

Here is the link to the website : http://www.hippyshopper.com/2011/03/pepsi_unveils_1.html

By Hakim