Government influence and intelligent use of available materials and design principles are the keys to designing economically viable eco-friendly products, a design expert says.

At the Design Institute of Australia (SA Branch)’s last Snap, Crackle and Speak breakfast, WSP Environment & Energy Senior Sustainability Associate John Gertsakis said 70 percent of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage.

“There’s more than just using ‘hero’ materials… there’s just a need to use materials more efficiently,” he said.

Mr Gertsakis said designers should use a “lock in, lock out” method where the most environmental benefits are set at the design phase.

Also, as the executive member of Product Stewardship Australia, Mr Gertsakis has been instrumental with the Federal Labor government’s National Television and Computer Product Stewardship Scheme.

Under the scheme, manufacturers and importers of televisions and computers will be responsible for recycling products they sell in Australia at the end of their lives. “You made it, you take it back,” he said.

It will be the consumer’s responsibility to return the products to a designated collection point free of charge. However they may pay a fee when they first buy a product to cover the future costs of collection and recycling.

The exact implementation of the scheme is currently open for consultation and can be found at online here.

DIA
dia.org.au

Hero image: Professor Paul Downton, Ontera Modular Carpets’ Mark Robinson, John Gertsakis, DIA (SA Branch) treasurer Brendon Harslett and DIA (SA Branch) co-president Andrew Whittaker at the Branch’s Snap, Crackle and Speak breakfast.