ECOLOGY AND ETHICS IN DESIGN AND

ARCHITECTURE
COURSE CODE :3680
(MSc SUSTAINABLE ENV DESIGN)
DR. TABASSUM ZAHIDI
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THE MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY HAS PROFOUND AND OFTEN DIRECT (SOMETIMES

INDIRECT) IMPACTS ON ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT (EXAMPLES).

THE MANUFACTURING OF ANY PRODUCT FROM ITS ACTIVE USE TO ITS EXISTENCE
AND AFTERWARDS, FALL IN SIX SEPARATE CYCLES . EACH OF WHICH HAS A
POTENTIAL TO HARM THE ECOSYSTEMS AND ECOLOGY AROUND.
THEREFORE AN ECOLOGICAL AWARE DESIGN AT ALL PHASES OF THE CYCLE IS
NEEDED, TO SERIOUSLY COUNTER THE POLLUTION AND SAFEGUARD THE FUTURE.
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2.1 PRODUCTION AND POLLUTION

EVERY PRODUCT FALLS INTO THE FOLLOWING SIX PHASES IN ITS LIFE CYCLE:
1. THE CHOICE OF MATERIAL
2. THE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
3. PACKAGING THE PRODUCT
4. THE FINISHED PRODUCT
5. TRANSPORTING THE PRODUCT
6. WASTE –THE FINAL DESTINATION?
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1. THE CHOICE OF MATERIAL
USE OF FOAM PLASTICS (POLYSTYRENE) TO MAKE CHEAP THROW AWAY FOOD
CONTAINERS, PLASTIC STRAWS, COFFEE CUPS (REMEMBER OLD, BANNED
MATERIALS)
2. THE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
EMISSION OF TOXIC FUMES, RADIO ACTIVE MATERIAL, LIQUID OR GASEOUS
WASTE, FUGITIVE EMISSIONS OF GAS POLLUTING WATER OR AIR
3. PACKAGING THE PRODUCT
USE OF FOAM PACKAGING FOR FRAGILE PRODUCTS (REMEMBER THE HAVOC
PLAYED BY CFCs USED AS PROPELLANTS IN SPRAYS)
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4. THE FINISHED PRODUCT (AT CONSUMER END)
A) THE UNLIMITED CHOICES GIVEN TO CONSUMERS AND PROFUSION OF OBJECTS PUT
PRESSURE ON RAW MATERIAL COMING FROM THE NATURE(ASK STUDENTS FOR
EXAMPLES WHICH ARE ABOUND)
B) CERTAIN PRODUCTS LIKE WATER SPORTS & WINTER SPORTS EQUIPMENT, MOUNTAIN
BIKES, DUNE BUGGIES DESTROY NATURE .
5. TRANSPORTING THE PRODUCT
BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS DIRECTLY AND NEED FOR MORE AND MORE ROAD/RAIL/AIR
AND SEA PORTS INDIRECTLY IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT
6. WASTE
HEAPS OF DISCARDED PRODUCTS AFTER THEIR USEFUL LIFE IS OVER , RUSTING
AUTOMOBILES , DIGITAL WASTE CREATING POLLUTION TO SOIL, WATER ETC,
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THE JOURNEY OF WASTE TO THE LANDFILL SITES, AND THAT EVEN DOES NOT END
THERE , HARM TO ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES (LOVE CANAL
DISASTER CASE STUDY)
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ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES DURING LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
• EXHAUSTION OF FINITE OR SCARCE RESOURCES
• DELAY IN REGENERATION/REPLENISHMENT OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES
• PRODUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GASES
• ACID RAIN ON DISTANT LANDS
• HABITAT DESTRUCTION AND SPECIES EXTINCTION
• AIR, WATER, SOIL POLLUTION
• NOISE POLLUTION
• VISUAL POLLUTION (ASK EXAMPLES FROM STUDENTS FROM THEIR
EXPERIENCES)
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FUTUREUNIT
2.2 PRODUCT ASSESSMENT
PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT IS THE EVALUATION TECHNIQUE FOR THE
PRODUCT/ECOLOGY RELATIONSHIP AND FOR CREATING ECOLOGICAL-BALANCED
PRODUCTS.
IT INCORPORATES ALL THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED 6 PHASES, FROM THE ORIGINAL
ACQUISITION OF RAW MATERIAL, THROUGH THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS , PURCHASE
OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT (SHIPPING, PACKAGING, ADVERTISING, PRINTING MANUALS),
THE USE, COLLECTION OF PRODUCT AFTER USE, REUSE/RECYCLE AND FINAL DISPOSAL
WHICH MAY BE POTENTIALLY ECOLOGICALLY DANGEROUS.
THIS LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS IS TO ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH
ALL THE STAGES OF PRODUCT’S LIFE , A PROFOUNDLY COMPLICATED ASSESSMENT
TECHNIQUE WHICH DEMANDS A GREAT DEAL OF STUDY, RESEARCH, DATA GATHERING,
EXPERIMENTATION AND INTERPRETATION.
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LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUE IS A POWERFUL TOOL LIKE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ASSSESSMENT, DONE FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND BASED ON THE
PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE (DISCUSSION ON BENEFITS OF EIA).
IT GAUGES THE FLOW OF MATTER, ENERGY , PRODUCTION OF WASTE AND
LIKELIHOOD OF POTENTIAL ECOLOGICAL HARM RELATED TO ALL THE PHASES. IT
ALSO ASSESSES THE MAGNITUDE OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
IT ENABLES THE COMPILER TO MAKE AN INVENTORY OF IMPACTS AT DIFFERENT
STAGES ( HOW MUCH BIOCIDAL) .
THE FINAL INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS HELP TO MAKE ENVIRONMENTALLY
INFORMED DECISION, PURPOSING CHANGES FOR IMPROVEMENT AT DIFFERENT
LEVELS, CHANGE IN DESIGN, CHANGE IN MATERIAL USED, PRODUCTION PROCESS
ETC (EXAMPLES LEAD IN PETROL ETC)
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MUST WATCH

THE LIFE CYCLE OF A T-SHIRT BY ANGEL CHANG /TED-ED

https://ed.ted.com>lessons>the life cycle of a t-shirt

Annually 2 billion t-shirts are sold globally and what are the
environmental impacts of an average classic white t-shirt during its life
cycle .
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2.3 PACKAGING AND SHROUDING
AS FAR AS THE PURPOSE OF THE PACKAGING IS CONCERNED TWO REASONS CAN BE EASILY
IDENTIFIED.
-PACKAGING AS A NECESSITY
-PACKAGING FOR BEAUTY/ATTRACTION/SELLING STRATEGY/IDENTITY
IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE PRODUCT SAFE FROM THE SPOILAGE, VERMIN, MOISTURE, DAMAGE,
SPILLAGE DURING STORAGE AND DURING TRANSIT.
AT THE SAME TIME THE PACKAGING THROUGH ITS DESIGN, COLOURS, TEXTURE AND LAYERS, IS A
POWERFUL MARKETING TOOL. IT GIVES IDENTITY TO THE PRODUCT LINE, ATTRACT THE
CONSUMERS OFFERING VISUAL CHARISMA (EXAMPLES).
ALL THE COMPANIES PRODUCING DIFFERENT PRODUCTS HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE
BALANCING ACT OF NECESSITY OF PACKAGING AND PACKAGING AS A SELLING TOOL (ETHICAL
ISSUE).
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CHOICE OF MATERIAL FOR PACKAGING
PLASTICS- ALL DIFFERENT VARIETIES MOSTLY OIL BASED, TOXIC, NOT FULLY RE-CYCLEABLE, NOT
FULLY BIODEGRADABLE, ECOLOGICAL HAZARDS FOR SOIL AND AIR DURING ITS BURNING PROCESS,
PROBLEM WITH LANDFILLS. A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES AND VARIENT OF PLASTICS ARE
EXPERIMENTED WITH, LIKE PLASTIC ADDITIVES MATERIALS MAKING IT LESS BIOCIDAL.
PAPER- CUTTING DOWN OF TREES AND FORESTS, POLLUTION DURING PAPER PRODUCTION
PROCESS AND BLEACHING , POSSIBLE REUSE& RECYCLE, PROBLEMS WITH LANDFILLS AFTER
LEACHING AND CONTAMINATION, HIGHLY GLOSSED PAPERS HAVE THEIR OWN ECO PROBLEMS
WOOD- TREE CUTTING SAME AS PAPER
CARD BOARD- USE OF SOME WASTE MATERIAL MAKE IT A BETTER CHOICE BUT DISPOSAL OF
DISCARDED CARD BOARD IS PROBLEM IN LANDFILLS , WEIGHTY WHILE REDUCTION PROCESS
GLASS – RENEWABLE SAND , NO CHEMICALS, REUSED AND RECYCLED , WEIGHTY FOR REDUCTION
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ORGANIC MATERIAL –DRIED GRASS, MOSSES, THIN COTTON BAGS, DUCK AND
CHICKEN FEATHERS, WOOD CHIPS WHICH ARE ALL RECYCLEABLE AND AS THEY ARE
ORGANIC THEY WILL RETURN TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT (DISCUSS THEIR
USE WITH STUDENTS FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES ).
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PACKAGING FOR BEAUTY/ATTRACTION/SELLING STRATEGY/IDENTITY

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED IN THIS REGARD:

CAN THE CONSUMER SAY NO TO THE LURE OF EXCESSIVE PACKAGING ?
CAN THE COMPANIES REDUCE THE PACKAGING AND HENCE REDUCE WASTE?
CAN THE COMPANIES USE PACKING ONLY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CONTENT?
CAN THE COMPANIES ABANDON THE EXCESSIVE PACKAGING FOR THE SAKE OF
ADVERTISING MESSAGES AND POINT OF SALE GRAPHICS?

ALL THESE ARE IMPORTANT FOR ENV. AND ECOLOGY. (ETHICAL ISSUE)
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2.4 PROBLEMS WITH PLASTICS AND TYRES
TYRES ARE ANOTHER PRODUCT WHICH STOCKPILES IN LANDFILLS, ILLEGAL
DUMPING PLACES, AFTER THEIR USE. IT IS IN FACT THE OIL LOCKED UP IN THESE
TYRE DUMPS, HAZARDS AS DISEASE CARRYING, GERM BREEDING PLACES,
PROFOUND POLLUTION FOR ATMOSPHERE IF BURNT.
THE VULCANIZED TYRES GOOD TO USE BUT HARD TO RECYCLE AS THE SULPHUR
AND CARBON IN THE RUBBER ARE BONDED INSEPERABLY.

REUSE IN ROAD MAKING , CHOPPED UP TYRES MAKE THE RUBBER MODIFIED

ASPHALT, MORE DURABLE IN LONG TERM (EXAMPLES)
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2.5 GREEN DESIGN
NEW DEVELOPMENT IN DESIGN WHICH IS IMAGINATIVE AND BASED ON
ECOLOGICALLY INFORMED CREATIVITY. THERE ARE MANY WAYS WHERE
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNERS CAN PARTICIPATE:
----IN HELPING TO ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT
----FORESTALLING FURTHER ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE
SUCH EXPERIMENTS ARE BASED ON REDUCTION, RECYCLING, REUSING MATERIAL
OR USING THE RENEWABLE MATERIALS TO FIGHT OFF THE SCARCITY OF FINITE
RESOURCES. THE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IS ALSO HELPFUL IN THIS REGARD.
MANY OF THESE ARE EVEN COMMERCIALLY VIABLE TOO(DISCUSSION /EXAMPLES)
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EXAMPLES ARE
• SOLAR CELL
• SOLAR LIGHTS FOR GARDENS
• SOLAR LAMPS
• SOLAR COOKING STOVES
• SOLAR PANELS FOR BUILDINGS, OFFICES, TRAFFIC SIGNALS
• SOLAR PHONE CHARGERS
• GEOTHERMAL BASED POWER GENERATION
• TIDAL POWER HARNESS TECHNOLOGY
• WIND ENERGY TAPPING TECHNOLOGY
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• BIOMASS CONVERSION INTO ENERGY (MAIZE, SUGAR CANE)
• CO-GENERATION (HEAT AND ELECTRICITY)
• FOREST WASTE FUEL DESIGNED STOVES
• ELECTRIC CARS
• RAIN WATER HARVESTING DESIGNS
• WASHING MACHINES WITH LESS WATER CONSUMPTION
• PRECISION INDUCTION COOKERTOP
• RECHARCHABLE BATTERIES
• HAIRDRYERS USING LESS ENERGY
• GYM EQUIPMENT USING HUMAN ENERGY
• LED BULBS
• SHOWER TIMERS
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2.6 DESIGN IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND BEYOND

ECOLOGICALLY INFORMED DESIGNS WILL BE NEEDED TO FIGHT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS:

- FEELINGS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BY THE DESIGNERS
- ALTRUASTIC REASONS BEYOND PROFITS AND POLITICS
- ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY DESIGN CAN BE A GOOD BUSINESS
- HEALTH OF THE PLANET AND ECOLOGY A PRIORITY FOR SAVING COMMUNITY AND PLANET

(DISCUSS BUSINESS, PROFIT, ETHICS, RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FACE OF ECOLOGICAL CRISIS)

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3 R’s FOR ENVIRONMENT VERSUS 5 R’S
REDUCE

REUSE

RECYCLE
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5 R’S
RETHINK AND REFUSE
REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE AND REPURPOSE
REJOICE

CALL FOR ETHICS, ALTRUISM, CREATIVITY, SPIRITUALITY, SELFLESSNESS,

COMMON GOOD (STUDENT’S POINT OF VIEW)
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THE DESIGNERS MUST KNOW AND DO:
1. EMPHASIS ON QUALITY AND PERMANANCE , AVOIDANCE OF
NATURAL RESOURCES WASTEFULLNESS , PRODUCTS THAT CAN AGE
GRACEFULLY, AVOID THE CHANGING FADS
2. QUESTION THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCES OF THE PRODUCT
WITHOUT THE PROFIT BALANCE SHEETS
3. DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRODUCTS FOR ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY
CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MONITORS
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4. DESIGN HAS TO BE EVALUATED AGAINST SOCIAL, ECOLOGICAL,
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
5. GREATER CONCERNS AND DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF NATURE,
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORKING OF NATURAL SYSTEMS
(NO ACTION IS A BETTER ACTION IN CASE OF LITTLE KNOWLEDGE
OR UNCERTAINTIES REGARDING IMPACT ON NATURE)

DESIGNERS HAVE TO FOLLOW THESE LINE TO HEAL THE GLOBAL

ENVIRONMENT.