Impact & sustainability
Design & Manufacture · Higher · mrkellydt.co.uk
What you're learning in this topic
Learning intention WALT
We are learning about impact & sustainability, specifically to:
understand
- how design and manufacturing technologies have changed the workforce
- the impact on the supply of products and society
- the impact on energy use and pollution
- methods to support sustainability (6 Rs)
- how to design for recyclability and reuse, and efficient use of materials
be able to
- investigate a product's sustainability and its impact on the environment
Success criteria WILF
- I can describe how design and manufacturing technologies have changed the workforce
- I can describe the impact on the supply of products and society
- I can describe the impact on energy use and pollution
- I can describe methods to support sustainability (6 Rs)
- I can describe how to design for recyclability and reuse, and efficient use of materials
- I can investigate a product's sustainability and its impact on the environment
Impact on society and the workforce
- Machines, CAD/CAM and automation produce more, faster and more accurately than manual methods.
- Workforce: fewer people needed; jobs lost to machines and to cheaper labour abroad; demand for new skills (CAD operators, machine supervisors and maintenance) and fewer traditional craftspeople.
- Supply of products: greater choice, cheaper products, a consumer and throwaway society.
- Companies must invest heavily in machines, maintenance and training.
Impact on the environment
- Uses up the earth's resources for materials and energy.
- Generates waste.
- Pollution from manufacturing, transport and disposal of products and packaging, contributing to global warming.
- Positive: new technologies can be more energy efficient and produce less waste (e.g. CAM nesting, 3D printing).
Energy: manufacturing uses large amounts of energy, much still from fossil fuels, adding to emissions. New technologies can reduce this: more efficient machines, renewable energy in factories, products that use less energy in use (LED lighting, A-rated appliances), and lighter products that need less fuel to transport.
Supporting sustainability
Sustainability means using resources responsibly so future generations can still meet their needs. Clean manufacturing includes sourcing materials sustainably and locally, minimising transport, energy use and waste.
The 6 Rs: Reduce (less material), Rethink (a less damaging solution), Refuse (unnecessary items, e.g. excess packaging), Recycle (use recycled or recyclable materials), Reuse (another use for the product or its parts), Repair (easy to fix, extending life).
Circular economy: nothing goes to waste; products are designed to be reused, repaired, rented or bought back.
Higher detail HIGHER
- Design for recyclability: single materials, labelled parts, easy disassembly (screws not adhesives).
- Design for reuse: refillable or repurposable products and parts.
- Efficiency: less material, efficient processes and packaging, energy-efficient products.
- Materials: plastics from fossil fuels; hardwoods and deforestation; composites hard to recycle; bio-composites and recycled materials reduce impact.
- Investigating a product's sustainability: materials, manufacture, transport, use (energy), life expectancy, disposal.
Key terms
| Sustainability | Using resources responsibly so future generations can still meet their needs. |
|---|---|
| The 6 Rs | Reduce, Rethink, Refuse, Recycle, Reuse, Repair. |
| Clean manufacturing | Sustainable/local materials, less transport, less energy, less waste. |
| Impact of automation on workforce | Fewer jobs and loss of traditional skills; demand for CAD and maintenance skills. |
| Circular economy | Nothing goes to waste; products are reused, repaired or returned. |
| Design for recyclability | Single materials, labelled parts, easy disassembly. |
Quick check
1. Which is a negative impact of automation on the workforce?
- More jobs for CAD technicians and engineers
- Safer working conditions on the factory floor
- Loss of traditional craft skills and fewer jobs
- Higher accuracy and fewer faulty products
Show answer
2. Designing a product to be fixed easily, extending its life, is which R?
- Reduce
- Refuse
- Rethink
- Repair
Show answer
3. Which design decision best supports recycling?
- Using one material and labelling it
- Gluing different plastics together
- Painting every part
- Using permanent fixings
Show answer
4. Sourcing materials locally mainly reduces…
- Product aesthetics
- Transport pollution
- Strength
- Branding
Show answer
5. Why are composites a concern for sustainability?
- They are too light to be used in products
- They rust quickly when exposed to water
- They are difficult to separate and recycle
- They always give off toxic fumes when used
Show answer
Exam-style questions
1. Describe the impact that design and manufacturing technologies have had on the workforce. (2 marks)
Show marking guidance
- Fewer workers needed as machines replace manual labour (1)
- Change in skills: demand for CAD operators/maintenance; loss of traditional skills (1)
2. Describe how a designer could reduce the impact of a product on the environment. (3 marks)
Show marking guidance
- Use recycled or recyclable materials, labelled (1)
- Design for disassembly with screws so parts can be repaired/recycled (1)
- Reduce material and packaging; source locally; energy-efficient in use (1)
3. Describe how consideration of the environment has impacted on the design, manufacture and use of a product such as a scooter. (4 marks)
Show marking guidance
- Materials: recyclable aluminium/plastics, labelled (1)
- Manufacture: efficient processes, low waste, local supply (1)
- Use: long life, replaceable wheels/parts, no energy needed (1)
- Disposal: easy to dismantle and recycle (1)
Printable worksheet
An I do, we do, you do worksheet for this topic, with a separate answer sheet.