The Story of Stuff

How you think the information presented could be useful (or not useful) for your future career as an industrial designer. 

The information that was in the video, Story of Stuff, is incredibly useful to reference whilst making decisions about sustainable design as it highlights the many flaws that occurs with the design and manufacturing network. The current structure of our production and consumption patterns are described as a linear system on a finite planet, which is why we are having such a huge impact on our environment. E-waste is increasing and so are the types of toxic chemicals that we use to produce them are harming the environment significantly which can also be said about bottled water. 

How has this movie challenged your stereotypes, prejudices, philosophy? 

It was my belief that if every product that was made could be recycled and that consumers recycled all their goods, that we would no longer need to find new resources, but unfortunately due to the huge amounts of waste during the manufacture process this isn't the case. When a consumer has one garbage can of waste, the manufacturing plant produces seventy garbage cans, which is why more efficient manufacturing processes are required.

I was also made aware that there is an extremely hight materials throughput, where of total materials that have been sold, 99% of all products are trashed within 6 months. And with consumer consumption increasing drastically, we can only believe this will increase too. 

I did know that there was a huge amount of e-waste produced each year but i didn't realise how toxic it was and how it was ‘recycled’ if thats what it can be called. All electronic products should be designed to last or have the ability to be upgraded whilst using non toxic materials. This would impact slightly on the profit, but as an iPhone costs around $200 to make and $900 to buy, I think an environmentally friendly materials improvement is still possible... 

It was a shock to be told how much oil is used to produce all the bottled water in a year, with a massive 80% being used in landfill and downcycled instead of recycled. It was also fascinating to hear that bottled water was 2000 times more expensive than tap water, which I would have never thought about before this video. It was also interesting to hear that bottled water is less regulated than tap water and that most bottled water is just filtered tap water. 

Will the realizations or insights change the way you act or think?

Yes, I didn't realise that incinerators were so bad for the environment and that dioxin and other horrible fumes were released with such detrimental impacts. Through my designs I hope to prove that I believe how all electronics products should have the ability to be upgraded, instead of obsolete and that the choices of materials are environmentally sustainable.

 What are the THREE most important “take home messages” to you and how do they impact you? 

We need to become less focused on how advertising affects us through limiting that amount of products that we buy and try to improve the amount of stuff that is recycled. 

Don't be fooled by perceived obsolescence, purchase and design products that can be upgraded and have minimal environmental impact when being recycled.

Understand that even when products can be recycled they are not always recycled to their true potential.

If you were in charge, what will you do to change the situation? 

If I was in charge i would inform people about the negative impacts that are occurring within society and the environment due to choices that place people in harms way. I would make sure that all manufacturing companies were halving their waste each 18 months and I would make sure that every product is environmentally sustainable