Tips to design products that reduce environmental impacts

[sazzad hussain]

There are a number of ways you can design your fashion in a way that considers the environment. Consider the following:

Materials:

    Think Eco-Fibre: there are a variety of fibre options for garment construction and textile use, and each has pros and cons from an environmental perspective
    Make It Last: select materials and design styles that will promote durability and longer use of the garment. Try not to design fads as these will inevitably end up in landfill
    Enhance Recyclability: by selecting materials that can be easily recycled, or by designing the product so it has a timeless style, you will decrease its environmental impact
    Reduce Your VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): volatile Organic Compounds are the funny smell you get from dyes and inks, and they are potent greenhouse gases.

Process:

    Less is More: reduce the ecological footprint of your product by designing patterns to use up as much of the fabric as possible. Also reduce hems and seams etc. where possible
    Think Life Cycle: try to find innovative ways of reducing the impacts of your product throughout its life, from packaging to the washing and care, and end of life
    Be Efficient: select manufacturers and production processes that are energy efficient, use green, renewable energy and make efforts to reduce inputs such as water and chemicals
    Make It Multi-Functional: encouraging customers to do more with less through multifunctional design promotes overall environmental benefits
    Zero Waste: find ways of using offcuts, scraps and damaged stock so that it minimises waste to landfill.

Marketing:

    Label It: labels are an essential part of a garment and a great way to communicate eco-options to consumers. For example include information about ethical construction
    Look For Certification: ask your suppliers, manufacturers and contractors to provide you with independently verified certifications for environmental management and ethical practices
    Offer a Service: why not take your product back or let customers trade it in when they are finished with it? Then you can re-construct it into something new or donate it to charity.





Reference: http://www.business.vic.gov.au/marketing-sales-and-online/business-sustainability/designing-sustainable-products


Muhammad Sazzad Hussain
Department of Textile
ID: 131-23-3397

[smriti.te]

good post

[tawhidhp93]

Thanks for the post

[Mashud]

Go ahead Sazzad!