SUSTAINABLE
SYSTEMS
THINKING.
‘Solutions which meet the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to fulfill their own needs.’ Christel Vaenerberg.
CONTENTS. Defining sustainable design
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What is Systems Thinking?
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What is Sustainable Systems Thinking?
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Greener Print Design
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Greener Packaging Design
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Greener Digital Design
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Greener Paper
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Greener Printing
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Greener Ink
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Greener Materials
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DEFINING SUSTAINABLE DESIGN. There is more to sustainable design than using recycled paper.
Profit The economical aspect the design problem.
Planet The environemtal impact of the outcome.
People How the outcome helps the people using it.
Culture Could the production create jobs for a local community?
Sustainable design is more difficult than being ‘green’. Sustainabilility is connected to everything we do, consume and make. There is no truly sustainable man made product in the world. Sustainable products/systems should allow the needs of the people to be serviced, without affecting the lives of future generations. True sustainability is dependant on meeting the quadruple bottom line; profit, planet, people and culture. When an outcome blances these 4 aspects it can be seen as a sustainable design. A design that meets the 4 criteria will not only do ‘less bad’ but will help improve the environment and affected communities.
WHAT IS SYSTEMS THINKING? Systems thinking is the process of considering any problem as part of a whole system.
The design process taught in school usually asks the student to solve a visually problem with a set of tangible outcomes in mind. This will tend to lead to the designer creating something for print or screen. Sustainable Systems Thinking requires looking at the project from a holistic perspective. An example could be that, rather than been given a brief that asks ‘design a poster about climate change’, be given a brief that asks to designer to try and slow climate change without a pre-defines outcome. The latter approach would lead to the designer to work collaboratively with people of a wider skill set, examining more complex issues with a more relevant outcome. The systems approach almost forces the designer to look beyond traditional printer and paper to materials, people, transport, air, water, politics, psychology and business etc. Solving this challenging problem would require asking tougher questions. What causes climate change? What does science suggest? How do wealthy/ middle class/poorer people view climate change? Who are the players in the system? Who do we need to collaborate with? etc. It might be clear that by asking these questions, that printing hundreds of posters actually adds carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
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THE WAYS OF SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS THINKING. There are 7 steps you can take to ensure you are viewing a project with sustainable outcomes as a focus.
Over the next few pages I will talk briefly about the 7 steps that can be taken to ensure you have sustainability in mind when facing a design problem.
REMOVE PRESCRIBED OUTCOMES. When the designer has a prescribed outcome, be it a poster, book or website it can adversley affect the outcome.
When a designer is given a design problem which has set deliverables, it can sometimes distract the designer from the core issues/questions that need to be asked to first understand the problem being set.
DETERMINE THE LARGER SYSTEM. From the materials used to how the resolution will be used by people.
What is the intention for the outcome? Is it to provide clean and safe water for under privelidged communities or to help a company sell more socks. Both of these will have different requirements. The first could be how to maintain equipment, the latter could be to reduce the carbon imprint of the manufacturing process. Identifying the full system will make all design decisions easier.
CREATE A SET OF PROJECT GOALS. Be sure of what you want to achieve before you start designing the product.
It is important to confirm a set of project goals with the client before you start the design process. There a a number of things that could restrict potential outcomes. From time limitation, budget restraints and more. These all affect any potential outcomes.
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PROPOSE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. The client may have asked for a poster or book. This should not stop you presenting the client with other possible outcomes that may solve the problem better.
The client may have asked for a poster or book. This should not stop you following a sustainable systems approach. A sustainable systems approach is likely to lead you to unexpected outcomes, it is likely that the client will not have thought about these outcomes before briefing you. If you propose your idea the client may use that over what they asked for.
DESIGN FOR PEOPLE. It is important to employ empathy in the design process. This will help you understand the core problem and design an appropriate response.
Seeing the problems people face in their day to day lives will help find an appropriate outcome to design problems. The solution may not need to be complex and expensive. A simple and easy to distribute idea will be more environmentally friendly.
FIND RESPONSIBLE MATERIALS. The materials you use are likely to be the most damaging part of the design resolution. There are steps you can take to limit the environmental damage your outcome will have.
A way of reducing the carbon footprint of the production process is to make materials local. This way there is energy saved on transportation. Responsible materials does not only concern the environment. You should research how the producers of the material treat their workers.
ASSESS POSSIBLE OUTCOMES. Ask yourself questions about the design throughout the design process.
It is important to ask youself questions throughout the design process. What are the project positive and negative points? Where could waste be reduced? What improvements can be made? The design process should never end as improvements can always be made.
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GREENER PRINT DESIGN. Print designers are taking steps to be more sustainable. Small changes have huge impacts when multiplied over large print runs. See left hand page for common printing methods.
The advice here is not the answer for the future, but positive steps that can be taken to lessen the environemental impact of print design. Reduce the amount of paper and other materials used overall by designing smaller pieces. Reduce wasted paper and other materials through clear decision-making during production. Replace wood fiber papers with agri-fiber papers when doing so is regionally and environmentally preferable. Aim for 100% post-consumer waste (PCW) recycled content paper. Choose paper manufactured using renewable energy, or offset by legitimate renewable energy credit programs. Select a greener printer for production. Use vegetable-based, low-VOC inks on press. Stick to digital printing for shorter runs. Avoid additives or excess finishing like foil stamps, varnishes, and laminates. Design the piece for extended use, or intentional reuse. Include verifiable information about the environmentally aware aspects of the piece.
GREENER PACKAGING DESIGN. Packaging can be highly damaging to the environment. Not jsut the materials used but also the transportation.
Excess packaging is an annoyance to the environmental extremists. They have valid concerns with the damaging Eliminate excess or unnecessary materia. Be made as light as possible without sacrificing durability. Be made with nontoxic, renewable materials. Be manufactured and transported using renewable energy. Be designed for intentional reuse, and for longevity. Be easily disassembled for appropriate disposal channels. Be compostable, or at least recyclable. Avoid polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
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GREENER DIGITAL DESIGN. Contrary to popular belief digital design is not always the greener alternative. There are a few ways to ensure it is.
The manufacturing of electrical equipment used to view digital work and energy servers used all have negative affects on the environment. It is important when choosing between print and digital design to think about the entire system the design will be in. Digital design should aim to; Be hosted by a company that powers their facilities with renewable energy (wind, solar, hydroelectricity), or offsets its non-renewable energy use by donating directly to renewable energy projects, or by purchasing certified carbon offsets through a legitimate program. Include a specially formatted print-friendly option designed to minimize paper waste for every web page created. Be produced on Energy-Star-rated equipment. Be created by a studio that has a formal environmental policy in place, including an equipment recycling program and energy conservation plan. Consider including an environmental-awareness component, or message about the environmental impact of the project.
GREENER PAPER. The paper making process can be harmful to the environment. However, there are choices you can make which will reduce the harm caused.
Once you know what goes into making paper, you can start looking for better options—and there are plenty to choose from. Made from non-wood sources when feasible. A minimum of 30% post-consumer waste (PCW) content. Processed chlorine free (PCF). Uncoated. Certified Ancient Forest Friendly. Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Manufactured using renewable energy, or be offset by legitimate renewable energy credit programs. Sourced and manufactured as close to the printing facility as possible.
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GREENER PRINTING. Printing can be unsustainable from both a financial and environmental stand point if not approached in a systematic way.
When choosing a printer to use you should; Are they local? Aim for a printer within 100 miles of you or where the final printed piece will be distributed. Are they FSC Certified? FSC certification ensures that the paper used comes from sustainably-managed forests. Are they certified by a legitimate third-party environmental group? While it doesn’t provide a guarantee, legitimate certification can ensure your printer takes these issues seriously. Are they powered by a renewable energy source? If not directly powered by renewable energy, do they offset their energy use by purchasing renewable energy credits from a legitimate provider? Do they have a formal environmental policy in operation? What is it? Do they have a formal energy reduction policy in operation? What is it? Do they have a formal waste reduction/recycling policy in operation? What is it? Do they provide a formal benefits program and regular safety training for their employees? A printer should respect their staff as much as they respect the environment. Are they willing to discuss the above issues with you? Environmentally-aware printers should be open to educating you about their processes, as well as willing to learn themselves.
GREENER INK. Inks can change dramatically between printers, brands etc. There are a few way to ensure a ‘greener’ project.
To ensure you are using the ‘greenest’ possible ink you should; Use ink sparingly. The more ink on the page, the more solvents needed on press, more waste for the printer to dispose of, and more energy needed. Contain a predominantly bio-based medium (linseed, cottonseed, tung, flaxseed, soybean, or other agriculturallyderived oils). Produce VOC levels of 5% or less. Not include heavy metals. Be sourced from local vendors. Require only nontoxic solvents and additives on press. Be part of an ink recycling or recovery program on press. Be easily de-inked during the recycling process.
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GREENER MATERIALS. There are multiple ways materials can be harmful to the environment. This is why choosing sustainable materials can be a hard thing to do.
When choosing materials you should ensure that; Material is nontoxic. Material has a low-VOC content. Material contains recycled content. Material can be easily recyclable or reused. Material is a renewable resource. Material can be accessed locally. The material is durable. Material is produced under safe and fair working conditions. Material extraction does not require the destruction of ecosystems or cultures.
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SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS THINKING David M. Gaskell
This e-book aims to give you an understanding of how you can practice greener design. Including an introduction to ‘Systems Thinking’, a process which will help you attain appropriate and progressive responses to design briefs. The book also outline steps in how to choose the ‘greener’ paper and materials.