Why you need to redesign products for a sustainable future

The climate challenge has evoked diverse responses from people worldwide. While some have reacted with fear, others have responded with innovation, exemplified by initiatives like the Redesign Everything Challenge by What Design Can Do in partnership with the IKEA Foundation. These initiatives are paving the way for creative minds to reimagine products and systems for a sustainable future. 

Their call to action is clear: we must transform our societies and industries in order to adapt to the climate crisis. At the heart of this endeavor lies the imperative to redesign products. Products, in essence, are embodiments of our values, lifestyles, and priorities. By reimagining the way products are designed, produced, and consumed, we have the power to catalyze profound change. 

Related : New design principles are needed to pave the way for sustainability

But what does it mean to redesign products for sustainability? It entails a holistic approach that considers the entire lifecycle of a product, from sourcing raw materials to end-of-life disposal. Some key principles that would drive this process include; 

Circular design: Embrace principles of circularity by designing products that can be reused, repaired, or recycled at the end of their life. This shift from a linear “take-make-dispose” model to a circular one minimizes waste and maximizes resource efficiency. 

Sustainable materials: Choose materials that are renewable, biodegradable, or have a minimal environmental footprint. This includes exploring alternative materials, such as plant-based plastics or recycled textiles, to reduce reliance on finite resources. 

Ethical production: Ensure that products are produced under fair and ethical conditions, with respect for human rights and labor standards. Transparency throughout the supply chain is essential to uphold these principles. 

Minimalist design: Adopt a minimalist approach to design that prioritizes functionality, durability, and timeless aesthetics. By avoiding unnecessary complexity and obsolescence, we can reduce consumption and promote a culture of mindful consumption. 

User-centric innovation: Engage users in the design process to understand their needs, preferences, and behaviors. By co-creating solutions with end-users, we can ensure that products meet real-world demands while fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility. 

These principles serve as guiding stars for designers, entrepreneurs, and innovators seeking to redesign products for a sustainable future. However,  the journey does not end with ideation; it extends to implementation, impact assessment, and continuous improvement. 

In addition to these core principles, several other strategies can further enhance the sustainability of product design: 

Biomimicry: Drawing inspiration from nature’s time-tested solutions, biomimicry offers innovative design solutions that emulate biological processes and systems. By mimicking nature’s efficiency and resilience, biomimetic designs can optimize resource use and minimize environmental impact. 

Closed-loop systems: Implementing closed-loop systems, where waste from one process serves as input for another, promotes circularity and resource efficiency. Examples include recycling initiatives that convert post-consumer waste into new products or biorefinery processes that extract value from organic waste streams. 

Digital technologies: Leveraging digital technologies such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain can revolutionize product design and supply chain management. From on-demand manufacturing to transparent supply chain tracking, digital innovations offer opportunities to optimize resource use and reduce environmental footprint.

Collaborative consumption: Embracing collaborative consumption models, such as sharing platforms or product-as-a-service models, encourages resource sharing and extends the lifespan of products. By maximizing asset utilization and reducing overconsumption, collaborative consumption fosters sustainability and resilience. 

 Initiatives like the Redesign Everything Challenge provide a platform for showcasing and scaling such solutions, while also offering support, funding, and mentorship to empower changemakers. By harnessing the power of design, we can unlock new possibilities and create a world where sustainability is a way of life. 

Together, let us embrace the challenge of redesigning products and redefine what is possible in the pursuit of a more sustainable, fair, and just society.