Eco Materials: Research
- What are the requirements? - Consider for structural projects - Consider for harsh environments - Research eco libraries, books & printers - Consider graphic designers, product designers and architects
Sustainability Standards The ISEAL Alliance www.isealalliance.org
The ISO 14001 www.iso.org
The ISEAL Alliance is the global membership association for sustainability standards. ISEAL is a non-governmental organisation whose mission is to strengthen sustainability standards systems for the benefit of people and the environment. It is a good way of discovering other standards bodies of sustainability within a range of sectors. The four goals of ISEAL Alliance are to: 1 Improve the impacts of standards 2 Define credibility for sustainability standards 3 Increase the uptake of credible sustainability standards 4 Improve the effectiveness of standards Sectors covered: Agriculture Carbon and climate Fishing Forestry Manufacturing and textiles Mining and minerals Water ISO 14000 - Environmental management
The ISO 14000 family addresses various aspects of environmental management. It provides practical tools for companies and organizations looking to identify and control their environmental impact and constantly improve their environmental performance. ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 14004:2004 focus on environmental management systems. The other standards in the family focus on specific environmental aspects such as life cycle analysis, communication and auditing. ISO 14001:2004 does not state requirements for environmental performance, but maps out a framework that a company or organization can follow to set up an effective environmental management system. It can be used by any organization regardless of its activity or sector. Benefits of using ISO 14001:2004 include: 1 Reduced cost of waste management 2 Savings in consumption of energy and materials 3 Lower distribution costs
Sustainability Standards GreenSpec
www.greenspec.co.uk
The product must use one or more of the following criteria: 1 Conserves natural resources 2 Uses resources efficiently 3 Any emissions are non-hazardous 4 Has low embodied energy GreenSpec identifies and endorses green building products, systems and services using the PASS (Product Assessment Screening System). The GreenSpec website includes a directory of endorsed products along with supporting environmental and specification data.
“Our goal at GreenSpec is to help drive the industry towards more sustainable forms of construction. Identifying ‘green’ products and materials is one of our core functions. We avoid engagement with manufacturers who promote environmentally undistinguished products as ‘green’ through use of deceptive marketing, aka ‘Greenwash’.” PASS is unique in that in addition to the environmental impact made by the material, it evaluates the product’s contribution to the overall building / construction element. The Travis Perkins Group use GreenSpec PASS accreditation to provide independent evaluation of all products sold through their Sustainable Building Solutions division.
5 Makes efficient use of water 6 Saves energy 7 Uses transport efficiently 8 Is accompanied by an Environmental Product Declaration 9 Demonstrates manufacturer’s standards 10 Shows competence 11 Demonstrates performance 12 Enhances other materials as part of the construction element 13 Is accompanied by labels, endorsements or accolades 14 The manufacturer is committed to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Sustainability Standards Forest Stewardship Council www.fsc-uk.org
Forest Stewardship Council is an international, non-profit organisation founded in 1993 to promote good forest management worldwide. In many forests around the world, logging still contributes to habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples, violence against people who work in the forest and the wildlife that dwells there. FSC certification is one way to improve the practice of forestry by breaking the link between logging and these negative impacts and simultaneously managing and protecting forests. The Trademark of the FSC is a label on timber and wood products indicating it comes from a well-managed forest. It is currently found on over 10,000 product lines in the UK alone including garden furniture, conservatories, tools, bird boxes, brushes, wall paper, flooring, doors, furniture, toilet tissue, paper, pencils - in fact most things made from wood. The FSC logo can also be found on non-timber forest products such as footballs and trainers containing latex as well as products such as venison and maple syrup. Almost all major DIY stores such as B&Q and Homebase stock FSC items. You’ll also find them in high street stores such as Sainsbury’s, Boots, Body Shop and Marks and Spencer.
FSC’s 10 Principles for Forest Stewardship: 1 Compliance with laws and FSC principles Respect all applicable laws of the country in which they occur and comply with all FSC Principles and Criteria 2 Tensure and use rights and responsibilities Long-term tenure and use rights to the forest resources shall be clearly documented 3 Indigenous peoples’ rights Legal and customary rights of indigenous peoples to own, use and manage their lands and resources shall be respected 4 Community relations and worker’s rights Maintain or enhance the long-term social and economic wellbeing of forest workers and local communities 5 Benefits from the forest Operations shall encourage efficient use of the forest’s multiple products and services to ensure economic viability 6 Environmental impact Management shall conserve biological diversity and fragile ecosystems and landscapes, and maintain the ecological functions and the integrity of the forest 7 Management plan A management plan shall be written, implemented, and kept up to date 8 Monitoring and assesment Monitoring shall be conducted to assess the condition of the forest, yields of forest products, chain of custody and their impacts 9 Maintenance of high conservation value forests Management activities in high conservation value forests shall maintain or enhance their attributes 10 Shows competence 11 Plantations Plantations should complement the management of, reduce pressures on, and promote the restoration and conservation of natural forests
Materials
Potatopak
Ekobe
Zelfo
Potatopak products are environmentally-friendly on every level. Unlike the manufacturing process that is used to create plastics and polystyrene, Potatopak’s manufacturing process emits no noxious fumes to the atmosphere or toxic liquid waste. Plastics and Polystyrene unfortunately have bi-sphenols and styrene which are carciogenic and, while plastics come from oil -- a limited natural resource -- they use a renewable resource - potatoes.
Made of the coconut shell with a natural process which has no residual environmental impact. In fact, the product is so ecologically friendly it actually contributes towards the elimination of Greenhouse gasses.
Fibre engineering systems developed by Zelfo Technology can transform 100% renewable or recycled cellulose fibres into self-binding Zelfo materials providing the potential to upcycle fibre-based waste, which can then be recycled into new products which in turn are recyclable and biodegradable.
All waste from manufacturing is fed to livestock, fish or worms. And, wherever possible, starch that has been reclaimed from local food processing waste streams. On average Potato Plates take 4 weeks to fully decompose in a compost bin. Good for: Graphic and product designers
Properties: 1 Highly resistant to impact 2 Resistant to damp and chemicals 3 Don’t stain These products are similar in nature to high density wood and as such are just as durable. It can be applied on glass, metal, plastic, wood, cement and ceramic. It also has outstanding acoustic and thermal properties. Tiles are made of small 2 or 3 cm square mosaics, bonded together to form a light weight and flexible tile suitable for most even or uneven surfaces. Good for: Interior designers and architects and engineers
Key areas: 1 Product Design Uses across consumer products, packaging, interior design 2 Built Environment/Construction including housings, furniture, flooring, and paneling 3 Pulp, Paper, and Paper Board 4 Plastics Zelfo may serve as an additive to or matrix for bio-based or conventional plastics, enhancing performance and reducing non-renewable material content
Good for: Interior designers, product designers, graphic designers, printers and architects and engineers
Materials
Smile Plastics
MONIFLEX
Alucore
Smile plastics produce sheets of plastic from mixed recycled plastic flakes. They recycle mostly from the sheets themselves after use, scrapped refrigerator linings and disposable plastic cups. Every ton of plastics that they recycle saves on average about 1.5 tons of CO2 and although the sheets will last for many years, they can certainly be recycled into new products.
MONIFLEX has been in constant use for over 60 years. It is made from the same, natural raw material as paper - cellulose. In view of present concerns about the environment, MONIFLEX has re-emerged as the obvious choice in insulation materials.
ALUCORE combines high mechanical properties, such as the tensile strength of the cover sheets, with outstanding processing and aesthetic features. The continuous production process allows the production of large size panels up to lengths of 9 m, with superior flatness.
Properties: 1 Light weight and rigid 2 Impervious to humidity and moulding 3 Fundamentally biodegradble 4 Easy and economical to cut and handle 5 Non fibrous 6 Long life
Properties: 1 Large variety of colours and perfect flatness 2 Low weight and extremely high rigidity 3 High formability 4 Vibration-damping 5 Low cost for substructures and fasteners 6 Short construction times 7 Excellent weather resistance
Good for: Interior designers, product designers, graphic designers and architects and engineers
MONIFLEX consists of transparent sheets of insulation for any application where resistance to humidity and vibrations in combination with low weight are important. For this and other reasons it has been used extensively in the transport and building industries. Typical applications are passenger rail vehicles and as insulation used in shipbuilding. Good for: Ahrchitects and engineers Above: Smile plastics used in kitchen shelving Below: In use in outdoor signage
Due to its composite structure, ALUCORE can take on many different shapes. It is almost like a different skin wrapping the building structure. Despite its low weight, making it easy to transport and handle, its rigidity and high strength make the panels keep their shape and remain flat, even when exposed to extreme temperature changes. ALUCORE can be fully recycled with any other aluminium without prior separation or sorting (scrap value). Good for: Architects and engineers
Materials
DalNaturel
Träullit Dekor
Ardesia Slate
Dalsouple rubber is suitable for a wide range of indoor and outdoor applications.
Träullit Dekor is an environment-friendly, recyclable material made from wood wool, cement and water.
Properties: 1 Insulates 2 Absorbs noise 3 Resists both water and burns 4 Slip resistant 5 Supple 6 Tough 7 Hygienic 8 Less environmental impact than most similar products
Properties: 1 Moisture-regulating The high pH value discourages mould and the material is not affected by rot
Eco-friendly slates and tiles, made from recycled plastics and Kaolin. Lightweight, yet extremely robust, and easy to handle, vandal-resistant and suitible for harsh weather conditions.
Virtually all rubber flooring on the market today is made from synthetic industrial rubber, a petrochemical by product. DalNaturel boasts over 90% natural ingredients. Natural rubber is a wholly renewable raw material, and mature rubber trees are exceptionally efficient at carbon sequestration - the absorption of harmful CO2 from the atmosphere. Rubber is also easy to recycle several times with many potential applications. Good for: Interior designers and architects and engineers
2 Heat-accumulating Träullit Dekor stores heat from the ambient air and emits it when the air temperature falls. This contributes to lower energy costs, reduced environmental impact and a stable and comfortable climate indoors 3 Sound-absorbent The open material structure reduces reflection of sound and makes Träullit Dekor a good sound absorber. The material dampens noise and contributes to restful acoustics in residential buildings, industrial premises and public spaces 4 Fireproof 5 Low-emission Good for: Interior designers, product designers and architects and engineers
Properties: 1 Light and easy to handle 2 Do not require specialist equipment for fixing 3 Extremely robust and resistant to damage 4 Provide good thermal insulation Ardesia slates are suitable for both new build and refurbishment, and the professional roofer, self builder or DIY enthusiast are all equally at home with them Good for: Interior designers and architects and engineers
Books
The Manufacturing Guides : Sustainable Materials, Processes and Production Rob Thompson
Above: Scale used in the book to show level of sustainability of each material
Sustainable Materials : With Both Eyes Open Julian Allwood & Jonathan Cullen
This book aimed at design students provides an understanding of the environmental impact of materials, manufacturing processes and product lifecycles, and a guide on how to select and use them in an intelligent way.
The book presents a vision for change, backed by comprehensive real life experience and based on scientific detail. It’s practical, not pie-in-the-sky. The solutions presented here are ahead of the game now.
Divided into three easily referenced parts, Materials, Processes and Lifecycle, the book is packed with practical information and in-depth analysis on 15 materials, 14 processes and six production lifecycles. Each material, process or production lifecycle features a full technical description, concise notes for the designer on its suitability, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and environmental impact, and fully illustrated, step-by-step case studies showing a product, component or material being manufactured by a leading international supplier.
By providing an evidence-based vision of change, the book can play a significant role in influencing our future. The book is written for a popular audience as well as specialists. The book is relevant to a wide range of industries: energy industry; the steel and aluminium industries; mining; construction; consulting; manufacturing; architecture. For readers who don’t believe that carbon emissions matter, the same arguments apply to energy saving: this book is not about climate change -- it’s about using materials wisely, and getting more for less.
Books
Material Revolution : Sustainable and Multi-Purpose Materials for Design and Architecture Sasha Peters
SustainAble: A Handbook of Materials and Applications for Graphic Designers and Their Clients Aaris Sherin
Environmental consciousness and a penchant for thinking in terms of material cycles have caught on with consumers: the use of environmentally compatible materials and production methods is desired, even taken for granted by the client. Designers and architects thus have a special role and responsibility.
Graphic designers and their clients are increasingly demanding sustainable solutions. Designers want to address these needs when presenting their work for consideration. As businesses continue to adapt and provide environmental solutions with their own products, they are demanding it from their creative partners as well, and designers need to be on the forefront of these initiatives by being well informed. This book will provide the information they need to be ahead of the curve on sustainability issues.
At the same time, we are dealing with a flood of new materials, which calls for specialized knowledge of their properties, their possible use, and their handling. Material Revolution bridges the gap between research and industry on the one hand and designers and architects on the other by offering a systematic overview of the currently available sustainable materials and providing the information to assess a new materials suitability and potential for a given project.
Printers Seacourt
Park Lane Press
Seacourt, the first Zero Waste printing company in the World, are carbon zero, ISO 14001 and 900 certified, powered by 100% renewable energy and use waterless printing.
Park Lane Press utilises waterless printing which eliminates the use of water and volatile organic compounds (i.e. harmful greenhouse gases). It also reduces paper, ink and electricity usage. They are certified by the FSC and ISO 14001 and use totally chlorine free paper with 75% of the fibre made from 100% de-inked post consumer waste.
www.seacourt.net
Seacourt are based in Oxford.
http://www.parklanepress.co.uk
Park Lane Press are based in Wiltshire.
Eco Materials Libraries Rematerialise
http://extranet.kingston.ac.uk/rematerialise/
Matrec
www.matrec.it/
Material Lab
www.material-lab.co.uk/