Construction consumes 50% of our natural resources and 60% of global waste, hence the importance of making intelligent use of the materials and energy used in their manufacturing.
In 1970, the industrial designer Dieter Ramos proposed a decalogue to base «good design» of goods and products, based on concepts such as: innovation, usefulness and practicality, aesthetics, understandability, honesty, discretion, care and precision, essentiality, consideration of the entire life cycle and respect for the environment.
In 1990, process engineer Michael Braungart and architect William McDonough, in their book “Cradle to Cradle”, spoke of four principles: Use safe, environmentally friendly materials. Include in the design the reuse of the material, to enter the biological cycle (return to earth) or the technical cycle (return to the industry). The use of water has to be efficient, for production it has to be of good quality and it has to return in good condition. The design of a project has to include social parameters. In the year 2000, the concept of eco-efficiency emerged, using nature-friendly materials and converting waste into food.
Design has to work increasingly within the circular economy, creating sustainable and socially responsible consumer products, goods and services, promoting a restorative and regenerative economy.
Ecodesign takes into account environmental aspects and provides added socioeconomic advantages for the competitiveness of companies and for the creation of innovative and quality jobs. This will allow us to reduce the ecological and carbon footprint and move towards a circular economy model beneficial for all.
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Article: Ecodesign as a tool for change
Author: Ferran Morgui, Morgui & Súnico