Presentation

Climate change and our need to save the Earth has received growing exposure in the media.

Countries such as China and India who are usually shamed for their pollution levels are now taking extraordinary efforts to reduce their carbon footprint by investing billions into the green energy sector. Therefore climate change is a very real problem that only has gained traction in recent years.

In an article by the Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jan/05/china-invest-renewable-fuel-2020-energy), it is stated that China are to invest £292bn into renewable energy by 2020, as the "world's largest energy market" moves away from coal and into cleaner fuels. This investment into renewable energy will help produce half of China's energy requirements. As a result China has become "the world's top solar generator last year."

Milton Glaser's approach takes on a more honest and realistic tone of voice towards climate change. It criticises the numerous 'go green' campaigns that don't effectively communicate the reality of the situation. Through his use of colour and slight change in wording, the campaign creates more urgency against the numerous campaigns that add to the noise, making "global warming" a benign phrase. However the flaw in the campaign is the choice of product distribution.

Having buttons people can purchase only adds to the waste produced already. Unless the materials used in the campaign are entirely sustainable, the product choice contradicts and negates the point of the campaign.

Second to oil, fashion and textiles is the most polluting industry in the world. This is not helped by our consumerist society and fast fashion brands such as Zara that perpetuate the constant need to buy more clothes. It can take more than 20,000 litres of water just to produce 1kg of cotton, which is the equivalent to a single t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Up to 8,000 different chemicals are used to turn the raw materials into clothes. These processes are only 'worth it' if the consumer actually buys it. More often than not, the unsold, unfashionable and falling apart end up in the landfill. With almost everyone on the planet buying clothes, the fashion industry needs to become more sustainable. 

The recent collaboration between adidas and parley have created shoes made using Adidas' existing footwear manufacturing processes but the usual synthetic fibres are replaced with yarns made from the recycled Parley Ocean Plastic. 

Designer Tom Dixon worked with Lacoste to produce sustainable packing for Lacoste's unique shirt. Rather than using ink, embossing is used and a recyclable material for the packing. Efforts to make packaging more sustainable would be a good starting point to make fashion more sustainable. More often than not, packaging is always discarded after purchase. With the amount of clothes people buy daily, the amount of waste product going back into the landfills can be lessened with materials that have a lesser carbon and environmental impact. 

IKEA has recently developed a type of joint that requires not metal parts such as screws, bolts, screwdrivers or allen keys. Called a wedge dowel, it makes furniture assembly a lot simpler. This solution has been brought on by consumer complaints of the slow and frustrating process of putting together furniture. IKEA's solution may not change global warming however it does represent the small steps needed to be made by these companies in order to reduce our environmental impact. With this joint, it helps save resources, energy and waste. And given the amount of people who do buy IKEA products, this will have a large impact in the long run. It is an ethical form of design because it serves a purpose, improves the design and produces less impact on the environment. 

IKEA's 'Better Shelter', shown on the right above, is a solution to the current refugee crisis. Winning a Beazley Designs of the Year Award, the shelter is designed to last more than 3 years and is made from lightweight polymer panels laminated with thermal insulation, that each clip onto a steel frame. The panels, pipes, connectors and wires all come flat-packed and take just four hours to assemble, making the shelter a comfortable form of housing that is long lasting and easy to build. It is an example of how "democratic design can be used for humanitarian value."

Over fishing is another important concern regarding climate change. SafetyNet designed by Dan Watson uses a combination of light and strategically placed holes to help separate fish of different ages and species. The illuminated holes guide the smaller fish out of the net whilst still retaining the larger ones. As a result, less impact is had on the overall population, meaning a more sustainable form of fishing that keeps the ecosystem in balance.