SELECTED LINKS
A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ON 30 TOPICS
You can explore green design topics with these extensively researched web-links. Although we do not vouch for the accuracy of all claims made by these sites, they they have been selected for their usefulness to product designers. Dig in!
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Abbreviations signify the following site characteristics
 | Site is useful to product designers |
 | Site is useful to other design professionals |
 | Site contains many useful links |
Inspiration, News, & Infrastructure
Action & Inspiration
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Treehugger This much blogged site is a darling of greenies of every shade Ð packed with news, product ideas and increasing invitations for sustainable designers to show your stuff! |
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SCORE! SCORE! Is the Sustainable Consumption Research Exchange, sponsored by the European Union. It offers a feast of ideas and new research documents. Dig in! |
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UNEP Design for Sustainability This tremendous designer friendly site offers an impressive array of tools that focus on development of lower income economies. Most can be used on high-income economy products as well. |
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barking crickets Barking crickets links to green product design, materials, publications, exchanges, competitions, conferences, research, sustainable development, and business. |
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worldchanging World Changing provides links to (and analysis of) the tools, multidisciplinary models and ideas for building a bright green future. |
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Design for the World Design for the World is an international organization that matches volunteer designers with the needs of disadvantaged populations. They love to hear from designers. |
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Worldwatch Worldwatch offers thorough interdisciplinary research, global focus, and accessible information on the interactions of key environmental, social, and economic trends. |
| Buckminster Fuller Institute The Buckminster Fuller Institute provides inspiration and keys to re-designing our future. | |
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O2 O2-usa O2 is the progressive international society for ecodesign, pulsating with green ideas. Join an O2 group in New York, Milwaukee, the Bay area, Portland or Denver, or start one in your area! |
| Zeri The Zero emissions Research Initiative site addresses bio-based production in several areas. | |
| Bioneers Bioneers organize an annual event to consider practical solutions for restoring the Earth. | |
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Information Inspiration Information Inspiration is an introductory eco-design resource from Loughborough University (UK) that supports design's involvement in environmentally focused projects. |
| Conservation economy Sustainable patterns promote an ecologically restorative, socially just and prosperous society. | |
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EcoMarket The European EcoMarket gives information on green products and services. |
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Environmental Defense Environmental Defense links science, economics and law to create equitable and cost-effective solutions to urgent environmental problems. |
| Eco-Portal Eco-Portal is devoted to "achieving ecological sustainability". | |
| Green Business Green Business is a resource center for business, the environment and the bottom line. | |
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PRé PRé Consultants are a Dutch consultancy helping companies improve environmental performance using life cycle assessment (LCA) software such as SimaPro and Eco-it. |
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Centre for Design The Australian Centre for Design promotes environmental sustainability through a directed program of research, consulting, professional development and knowledge sharing. |
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Interenvironment This extensive directory details subject and geographic sections and cross-references. |
| Design Outlaws Design Outlaws produced the video "Ecological Design: Inventing the Future" that is used in the Okala curriculum. A book of the same name is also available. | |
| Institute for Global Communications The Institute for Global Communications hosts EcoNet, PeaceNet and dozens of other great sites. | |
| Orion Society The Orion Society presents many voices on nature and culture. Orion Afield covers environmental education in a wonderfully inviting way. | |
| Information Point Austrian Ecodesign Information Point provides insight translated into English from the biocentric German-speaking world. | |
| Rocky Mountain Institute The Rocky Mountain Institute is home for innovative energy efficiency, the hyper-car, green development database, profitable climate protection and more. | |
| Natural Capital Institute The Natural Capital Institute has downloadable chapters and a discussion forum organized by the critical thinkers Hunter & Amory Lovins & Paul Hawken. | |
| Greenmap Diverse international Eco-Design links can be found on the Green Map System's site. | |
| Ecological Footprint Calculate your ecological footprint with this website that estimates the relative impact of your consumption patterns. It is an eye opener. |
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Eco-labels
| International Standards Organization This helpful site gives a concise overview of the important ISO eco-label standards. Unfortunately we have to pay to read the full text of these crucial ISO standards. | |
| European furniture ecolabel You can learn about the developing nuances of the EU ÒflowerÓ ecolabel for furniture. | |
| Energy Star Energy Star is the most successful eco-label in the US, with applications to most energy consuming household appliances. Will one of the products that you design qualify? | |
| Clasp This independent global technical resource focuses on developing energy efficiency standards and labels for products. | |
| Electronic Product Env. Assessment Tool EPEAT is a voluntary eco-label for electronic products in the United States. Learn more about this forward-looking certification. | |
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Eco-label Overview An overview of eco-labeling is discussed on this Canadian site. |
| Europa This site describes progressive European Union eco-label policies. | |
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Sustainable Agriculture A California site of interest to organic food packaging and labeling. Check out the Salmon Safe! |
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Eco-label This European eco-label catalogue and search engine lets you explore usage of the EU green flower label [not to be used for food and medicine.] |
| Emcentre The Canadian eco-labeling site gives reasons why people should use cloth diapers 75 times, [preferably wash first]. | |
| EU Energy Star The EU and the US will both use the EPA Energy Star logo in the future. This somewhat dense site describes how these major markets will share use of this logo. | |
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Eco-mall Eco-mall explains eco-label programs and labeling issues on products. |
| Ecolumber Original organization ecolumber has been shut down. The only forwarding link is the Mo Co one. | |
| Consumers Union This Consumers Union board operated site, similar to consumer reports, is a "must read" for food and food packaging. | |
| Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition outlines the problems associated with disposed computer equipment. Clear definitions of all eco-labels are provided. | |
| Clean Production Clean production gives a clear description of many ecolabels, especially those that may apply to electronic products. | |
| Greenseal Greenseal began in the US in 1989. It qualifies paints, papers, building materials, and cleaners efficient fixtures and chillers, | |
| Australian Eco-label The Environmental Labeling Association manages the development of eco-label standards in Australia. | |
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Grinning planet This engine searches on grinning planet covers health and environmental issues, ranging from battery recycling to organic food. |
| EcoLabel Overview You can review this link for a clear and concise summary of electronic product eco-labels and certification systems. | |
| Der Grüne Punkt Der Grüne Punkt (green point) is the definitive packaging eco-label for grading product packaging materials in Germany. | |
| You can also consult the Federal Communications Commission market claim regulations which are supplied reading for Okala module 18. |
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Environmental News
| Green Cross You can help this inspiring US branch of the organization that Michail Gorbechev originated. They address international environmental problems ranging from global warming to nuclear fuel control. | |
| The Daily Green This new website plans to be a consumerÕs guide to the green revolution. They will have tips on a more energy-conscious, natural foods- and environment-friendly lifestyle. | |
| Daily Grist Grist reports on five environmental news stories of the day, five days a week. Sign up and be informed by this free, witty service. | |
| Planetark Those needing more thorough reportage can receive the top 20 environmental news stories broadcast by Reuters, five days a week for free. | |
| U.N. Environmental Program The United Nations Environmental Program offers free news about the Sustainable Consumption Project. | |
| Environmental Defense Look into today's news and brainstorm about the products you should be designing at Environmental Defense. | |
| Environmental News Network This site delivers daily environmental news updates from all over the world with a separate link for business news. | |
| Ends Report ENDS requires membership to view their intensive news articles that are updated daily. | |
| Envirolink This site lists recent archived headlines from newspapers and magazines in the US. The forum allows you to post questions and answers. | |
| Natural Step U.S. The US branch of the international Natural Step Organisation describes the essential system conditions to stabilize the health of the global biosphere. It also provides an overview of ecodesign methods which needs be clearer and more explicit. | |
| GreenBlue GreeenBlue is the nonprofit arm of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC). This site decribes their ideology and methods that focus on reducing the toxicity of biological and industrial material cycles. | |
| Capital Reports This site offers news on business and political environmental topics. | |
| Greenclips Greenclips gives a summary of news on green building design and related government and business issues published free every two weeks by email. | |
| Recycling Today Recycling today offers a plethora of articles and links to world of material reuse. |
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General Ecodesign
| Centre for Sustainable Design The Centre for Sustainable Design in the UK provides product oriented methods, strategies, examples and approaches. | |
| Green furniture information center Value+Created Review is an information gateway for green furniture related issues (Vancouver B.C). This incredible site is updated regularly for new developments in materials and certification. | |
| Entirely Sustainable Product Design This succinct site offers condensed product ecodesign information. | |
| Design Resource Awards You can review winning green products from the International Design Resource Awards. | |
| Design: Green Design: Green workshops were developed and held in New York, Minneapolis, and Chicago. A helpful and free workbook is available. | |
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Geonetwork Global Environmental Options offers a sustainable design center. |
| Fruanhofer Institute The Fruanhofer Institute (Germany) outlines environmental design processes with project examples. | |
| ICSID The international Congress of Societies of industrial Design (ICSID) posts a calendar of international industrial design competitions, some of which are ecological and social. | |
| Biothinking Edwin Datschefki's bio-thinking site provides illustrated green products and a presentation on eco-design. This approach communicates well, even though it somewhat oversimplifies complex issues. | |
| The Natural Step The Natural Step organization describes four essential system conditions for stabilizing the global ecosystem, and offers an overview of methods which need to be explained more thoroughly for practicing designers. | |
| GreenBlue GreenBlue is the not-for-profit branch of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry. They promote the elimination of toxic substances in biological and industrial material cycles, and generate ideology with offer proprietary impact assessment methods. | |
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Environmentally Sustainable Product Design ESPDesign is a free resource with a design method guide. |
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James & James Science James & James publishes on energy and waste management. |
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Green Energy
Few activities are as closely linked to environmental impacts as the production of energy. Fossil fuels are not only depleting, they are the cause of the vast majority of the global warming which the Earth is just beginning to experience.| State Incentives for Renewable Energy The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy enables you to find incentive programs for using renewable energy in any state. | |
| Clean Energy States Alliance The Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) is a coalition of clean energy funds working together to develop clean energy technologies and expand the markets for these technologies. The site has an informative presentation: "Clean Energy Funds Network." | |
| American Bioenergy Association The American Bioenergy Association provides updates on the US Energy Bill. | |
| US Department of Energy The US Department of Energy site provides extensive information on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, including biomass, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind. | |
| DOE Inventions You can apply for an energy innovations grant if you follow the directions and qualify. Crank out those creative energy efficient ideas! | |
| Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy This site gives explanations of how solar energy can be captured and utilized. | |
| Green Power Markets This link provides news and information on green power markets with up-to-date information on providers, consumer protection issues, and policies. It includes a library of reports. | |
| American Council on Renewable Energy The American Council on Renewable Energy's website ties all forms of renewable energy with US consumers' lifestyles with current news. | |
| National Renewable Energy Laboratory NREL is one of the best resources on the web to learn about renewable energy and materials. Surf to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biomass. | |
| DOE Statistics These energy statistics from the US Government, including natural gas, coal, and renewable resources allow you to read up on renewable energy trends, green pricing programs, and solar thermal information. | |
| American Wind Energy Association You can learn about how wind energy became the world's fastest growing energy source. | |
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DOE Green Energy This DOE search engine is a powerful source for green energy information. |
| Solarbuzz This photovoltaic industry journal offers free monthly news as well as a wealth of inside information about companies and emerging technologies. | |
| Solar Energy Industries Association This link includes solar energy manufacturers, distributors, installers, architects and marketers with extensive facts on using solar energy. | |
| H2eco The Hydrogen Energy Center demonstrates the potential of hydrogen as an energy carrier for the New England region. | |
| Small Hydro Power The International Network on Small Hydro Power seeks to supply rural areas in developing countries with environmentally sound and affordable energy. | |
| Hydro Research Foundation The Hydro Research Foundation advances awareness of the benefits of hydroelectric power. | |
| CREST The Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology accelerates the use of renewable energy with credible information, policy analysis and innovative strategies amid changing energy markets and mounting environmental needs. | |
| Energy Justice Network Environmental Justice problems are covered in depth on this site. | |
| Energy Efficient Lighting This thorough site from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute includes several useful energy efficient lighting exercises. | |
| Clean Edge Clean Edge helps companies, investors, governments, and nonprofits profit from emerging clean energy markets. They offer research reports, strategic marketing and co-sponsored events. |
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International Regulations
Each nation makes laws to regulate activities that affect the environmental quality of its air, water, soil and food. Some laws regulate substances that are in products, others regulate qualities of the product or the way that the product is manufactured, distributed and disposed of.Below are sites describing some important product-related laws. Front and center are the European Union directives on electronic products, namely the WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and the RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) directives. These mandatory regulations now apply to all manufacturers selling electronic products in the European Union.
RoHS states that all participating states "shall ensure that, from 1 July 2006, new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market does not contain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)." Exempted product types typically include military (thanks to lobbying from NATO/the Pentagon), core communications and some types of medical equipment. The precise exemption categories and the timetables for exemption expiration are still being finalized. There are financial penalties for products that have low percentages by weight of recyclable materials and constructions, however the initial 80% goals should be easy to achieve.
Many countries also adopted product-class recycling laws, including Japan, Canada, Taiwan and South Korea. China will likely adopt regulations analogous to the RoHS and WEEE. How long will it take the US to do likewise? While we wait, we should inform ourselves (and our bosses and clients) about this important wave of product regulation that moves inexorably in our direction.
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WEEE These site gives an overview of the WEEE. |
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RoHS This site gives the RoHS directive in full. |
| Chinese WEEE This indicates how China is seriously looking to adopt regulations similar to RoHS and WEEE. | |
| Hazardous Waste Convention U.S. is the only developed country in the world that has not ratified the Basel Convention. We need to push our legislators to adopt this international agreement to ban the trade of hazardous waste (which electronic waste is qualified as). | |
| Electronic Waste Information Raymond communications offers information about developing international electronic waste laws for subscription. | |
| EU Chemical Regulation REACH is another new far-reaching EU directive that regulates chemicals and chemical content. | |
| Energy Using Product Ecodesign You can learn about EU regulations on Ecodesign, WEEE, RoHS, and Sustainable Development Strategy. |
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Professions & Competitions
Employment Opportunities
Some designers create a meaningful vocation by seeking out sustainable design work. Full-time positions in ecodesign are rare so persistence is essential. You should also consider integrating ecodesign as part of a conventional industrial design position, where you have some leverage within a company.| Sierra Jobs This site is for typical environment related disciplines, offering a job search engine. | |
| Greenbiz Greenbiz posts job openings. | |
| Sustainable Business Sustainable business also posts "green dream" jobs. | |
| Environmental Careers This environmental careers organization site lets you surf for a range of topics. | |
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Envirolink Envirolink provides job and volunteering information as well as events and organizations to join. |
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Green Architecture
Our architect colleagues lead the product design profession in many green design areas. For instance, the LEED Green Building Rating System enables buildings to be certified at various levels of "greenness." We touch on some of the green architecture sites - but if you need more intensive access to the vast arena of green architecture research - you are advised to try the Architects Institute of America (AIA) and similar architect association sites.| Building Green Building Green features articles and references on topics and materials in green architecture, interiors, and green building materials. They also manage the Green Building listserv, a forum for exchange of green building information. | |
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LEED The LEED Green Building Rating System (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings under the auspices of the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED criteria are driving a growing demand for eco-products. |
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Green Design Education Initiative The Green Design Education Initiative is a partnership of the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC), the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) and Metropolis Magazine. The magazine and these prominent design associations pool resources to disseminate information on green interior design. |
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Green Building Materials This site from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources references a range of building materials that conserve natural resources and protect the environment. |
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Environmental Home Center This Seattle store stocks a wide variety of healthy, resource-efficient products for home and office. |
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Real Goods This catalog of "products for an ecologically sustainable future" emphasizes renewable energy and healthy living products. |
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Geoexchange You can learn a lot about geothermal heat exchange from this geothermal industry site. |
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Greenroofs This site is a meeting place of Greenroof architecture enthusiasts, where people submit projects and information to this forum-structured site.The student forum is useful. |
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Greenzone Interior Design magazine now offers a new, online eco-area, entitled "GreenZone", an excellent source for stylish and eco-friendly interiors. |
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The Green Guide An online newsletter providing information on a wide variety of environmental and health topics. It requires a subscription to read full articles. |
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Green Building Expo Green Building Expo meets annually for members and non-members. |
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Architecture for Humanity This nonprofit organization was founded to promote architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises. |
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Environdesign Environdesign is an annual conference and product fair. Attendees are mainly architects and interior designers, but content is heavily product related. |
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ATHENA The ATHENA(tm) Sustainable Materials Institute finds answers to critical questions about the environmental impact of buildings and building products. They produce the ATHENA Environmental Impact Estimator, a life cycle assessment tool. |
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Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability BEES software brings to your fingertips a powerful technique for selecting cost-effective, environmentally-preferable building products. It was developed by NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology.) |
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Viridian Design On the Viridian Design site, you can find an annotated list of green furniture sources. |
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Green-haus Green-haus is a free on-line research tool to assist architects, builders, and homeowners with information on "green" home design. |
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Green Design Journals
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International Journal of Sustainable Design This new journal offers substantive articles bridging theory and technique. |
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The Journal of Sustainable Product Design The Journal of Sustainable Product Design provides information on methodologies, strategies and approaches in ecodesign. |
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Sustainable Style Foundation Style And Sustainability Seasonal (SASS) is a magazine from the oh-so hip Sustainable Style Foundation, with the alluring motto: "look fabulous, live well, do good". Check 'em out! |
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Metropolis Magazine The sustainable design site from Metropolis offers provocative articles and leadership in promoting sustainable development in architecture and in design. |
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Journal of Industrial Ecology The scholarly JIE from MIT Press publishes extensive technical papers quarterly. Topics can be searched. |
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International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment The IJLCA, based in Germany, publishes and offers to subscribers abstracts of extensive articles dating back to 1998. |
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Sustainable Industries Journal Thuis quarterly covers events and developments in the Pacific Northwest and offers a free e-newsletter. |
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Journal of Cleaner Production The Journal of Cleaner Production encourages industrial innovation, new and improved products, and the implementation of new, cleaner processes, products and services. |
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Green Product Designers
Many product design consultancies integrate environmental considerations in their work, but few offer it as an explicit service. The following IDSA-members describe green design services on their websites. We list green product designers (architect association sites such as AIA may list green architects). If your office qualifies and you wish to be added to this list, please contact the Ecodesign Section.| Erika Hanson Consulting Erika Hanson IDSA is an independent designer in NYC with expertise in project management and fabrication. She provides tailored strategies for improving the environmental performance of products, services, and businesses as a whole. | |
| Fire and Water Fire & Water Lighting + Furniture is the NYC practice of David Bergman IDSA, providing sustainable design services to manufacturers of furniture and lighting. | |
| Thomas Newhouse Design Tom Newhouse IDSA has been an ecodesign activist for over 25 years, and includes environmentally sustainable design principles as an integral component of all of his industrial design projects. He is President of the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. | |
| Orb Analysis for Design Orb Analysis for Design, of Philip White IDSA, provides strategic system conceptualization, advanced product environmental impact assessment, and award-winning design. Orb developed the Okala Impact Factors and advises to the United Nations Lifecycle Initiative. | |
| Tangiblearts Tangiblearts is the office of Eric Carlson IDSA in Washington DC offering energy efficiency and environmentally friendly design services. |
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Green Design Competitions
| IDEA Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) foster business and public understanding of the importance of industrial design excellence to the quality of life and the economy. IDEA is co-sponsored by Business Week magazine. See the Ecodesign Section page on Awards to learn about the ecodesign criteria. | |
| Coram Design Award Coram Sustainable Design Award (the Netherlands) fosters innovation in sustainable bathroom design. | |
| International Design Resource Award IDRA encourages the use of post-consumer recycled, and reprocessed and sustainably harvested materials in new product designs and buildings. | |
| People, Prosperity, and the Planet Award US EPA P3 Award is a national student design competition focusing on the three pillars of sustainability. ID programs should partner with a science or engineering department when applying to improve chances of being selected to participate. |
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Product Design Schools
Most schools of product design provide instruction about ecodesign to a small degree. The following programs offer classes devoted primarily to ecodesign. Some offer clusters or specializations in ecodesign and sustainable design. You can find a school that fits your interests or lobby your instructors and IDSA student chapter to add essential green design curricula. You can also learn about the Okala ecological design curriculum on student education page, accessible from the Okala Curriculum homepage.If your school provides an ongoing class in ecodesign, please contact the IDSA Ecodesign Section so we can post it. We list courses from North American schools (US, Canada and Mexico); other international programs are beyond our scope of familiarity.
| Arizona State University ASU will offer a green design course based upon the Okala materials and projects in ASU's InnovationSpace emphasize design for the environment as a necessary condition for good design. The new International Institute for Sustainability demonstrates growing momentum at ASU. | |
| Art Center College of Design Art Center in Pasadena offers a range of new and in-depth ecodesign and sustainable design classes, including: Design for sustainability, Strategies for sustainable environments, Natural systems, and Environmental issues. | |
| California College of the Arts CCA in San Francisco offers Energetics & Ecology, given by Jay Baldwin, exploring systems thinking, appropriateness, self-organizing systems. CCA also offers a thorough biomimicry course (see "Applied Biology for Artists and Designers" under "biomimicry"), and a sustainable design graduate class for '06. | |
| Georgia Institute of Technology ID3301-3302 These classes explore the role of the industrial designer in relation to the ecological demands of the 21st Century. They explore industrial ecology, dematerialization, design for disassembly, design for recycling, alternative energy and life-cycle assessment methods. | |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design MCAT offers a Sustainable Design online certificates on the themes: Moving Beyond Recycling, Sustainability or Else, and Ecological Graphic Design. | |
| Frankiln W. Olin College Olin College of Engineering offers Design Nature and Sustainable Design taught by Benjamin Linder and Renewable Energy taught by Jessica Townsend. A Green Design concentration is available. | |
| Parsons School of Design David Bergman teaches several classes at Parsons in NYC: "Sustainable Design: Principles and Practice" in the Product Design Department, "Economics and Ethics of Sustainable Design" in the Design + Management Department. | |
| San Jose State University ID131: Modeling and designing ecologically friendly products is a research & studio class using Okala impact factors to compare the environmental performance of products and design superior performing concepts. | |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale AD 363 Product Development is taught concurrently with a junior level studio. This course is an intensive investigation into materials and processes used in manufacturing and incorporates ecodesign using the Okala curriculum. | |
| Stanford University Beyond Green Theory is Mandana MacPherson's class that helps students learn proactive approaches and tools designers need to move forward. Projects allow students to translate theory into artifact. | |
| University of Cincinnati The U of C EcoLabOrative, organized by Dale Murray, includes two classes open to students of design, business, engineering and environmental science. The lecture course covers sustainable design philosophies / methods and the interdisciplinary design studio enables collaboration with industry to forge an ecodesign solution with a business plan. | |
| Western Washington University WWU began a sustainable design minor in September 2004. WWU provides a quarter-long focus on sustainable design in the junior level ID studio series every fall, restricted by portfolio review. |
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Strategies & Methods
Appropriate Technology
This long-established field of technology development meets the needs of economically poorer nations using materials and tools that are locally available and that the local people understand.| Engineers Without Borders Engineers Without Borders partners engineering students with disadvantaged communities to improve quality of life through environmentally and economically sustainable projects that deal with water, sanitation, energy, and shelter. | |
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Center for Alternative Technology CAT is a UK environmental charity aiming to 'inspire, inform, and enable' people to live more sustainably. They offer practical solutions in renewable energy, environmental building, energy efficiency, organic growing and alternative sewage systems. |
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Engineering for Developing Communities The EDC program educates engineering students and professionals who offer appropriate solutions to endemic problems faced by developing communities worldwide. |
| Crossject Crossject is a French company that develops needle-free injection technologies that apply vaccines through the skin and improve the comfort and safety of routine injection. | |
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Institute for Appropriate Technology The IAT has links to green issues including solar and mechanical devices, water systems, chemical devices, agriculture and agroforestry, building, rural self-reliance, and permaculture. |
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PATH PATH is a not for profit organization providing health technology for poor communities. These "social entrepreneurs" improve health of less fortunate people by advancing appropriate technology and encouraging healthy behavior. |
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Development Center for Appropriate Technology DCAT promotes a shift to sustainable construction and development through strategic relationships, and education. |
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National Center for Appropriate Technology NCAT uses community approaches to improve agricultural practices, rural development, renewable energy, low-income energy, affordable housing, and water quality. |
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Xaccess XAccess specializes in cargo bicycles in rural Kenya. They set up shops that emply local metal workers to convert bicycles into cargo bicycles for others to start businesses transporting goods. |
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Asian Alliance of Appropriate Technology Practitioners The AAATP increases access of the poor to technologies and processes appropriate to their increasing needs and expanding capacities. |
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Intermediate Technology Development Group The ITDG aims to demonstrate and advocate the use of technology and skill development to reduce poverty and improve environmental conservation in developing countries. |
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Appropriate Technology Library The AT Library offers bibliography of village technology covering small water supply systems, renewable energy devices, agricultural tools, intensive gardening, small business management and transportation. |
| Light Up the World Light Up The World Foundation (affiliated with the U. of Calgary) brings ultra-efficient, durable white light-emitting diode (WLED) lighting powered by renewable energy to ecologically sensitive and remote areas. | |
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Journey to Forever Journey to Forever is an educational expedition focusing on trees, soil and water, sustainable farming, sustainable technology, and family nutrition. The site contains self-guided appropriate technology projects. |
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Sustainable Village Sustainable Village sells over 10,000 products for energy generation, safe water, public health, communications, and sustainable agriculture. They provide design and engineering, international delivery, training and installation. |
| Intermediate Technology Development Group ITDG was founded by the radical economist Dr E.F. Schumacher to prove that his philosophy of "Small is Beautiful" brings real improvements to people's lives. ITDG has a comprehensive site on programs and technologies in developing countries. | |
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Lifewater Lifewater is a Canadian non-profit that trains and equips the rural poor in Africa to drill wells and build washrooms. They include instructions for building hand-pumps, drilling and water development techniques. |
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Fogquest FogQuest is a non-profit organization promoting use of fog, rain and dew as sustainable water resources for people in arid regions. |
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Ceramic Water Purifiers This site contains instructions on how to create these simple, low cost purifiers that can be replicated anywhere. |
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Biomimicry
Biomimicry (from bios, life, and mimesis, to imitate) studies nature's systems and imitates these designs and processes. This powerful ecodesign strategy researches chemical, physical and organizational examples from biology as potential applications in products and systems.| Biomimicry Case studies in this crucial site include examples of how natural phenomena inspired the creation of materials and processes, excerpted from the book: Biomimicry, by Janine Benyus. | |
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 This university level course "Applied Biology for Artists and Designers" was expertly developed by biologists Jeremy Eddy Ph.D. and Lars Tomanek Ph.D., for the California College of the Arts. It is best taught from the perspective of biology, not that of design. |
| Biomimicry Guild This site from the Biomimicry Guild gives examples of applied biological principles in products and processes. | |
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Biomimicry: Learning From Nature The two-part film sponsored by Canadian Broadcast Channel is based on the book by Janine Benyus. This site offers audio samples from the show. |
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Conversation This site offers audio streaming and transcripts of a 30-minute presentation by Janine Benyus. |
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World Changing This site features Alexis Karolides conversing about building a biomimicry database. |
| Planet Guide Dr. Art's Guide to Planet Earth explains in elementry terms how our planet works. It includes a book and a theatre show. Explore, enjoy and learn... | |
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Science and Development Network Termites give clues to energy efficient buildings. This article hints at how African termite mounds can help scientists develop energy efficient buildings. |
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Biomimicry in Communities This Rocky Mountain Institute article describes how biomimicry can produce healthy interactions and systems. |
| David Oakey Interface, the world's largest carpet manufacturer, leads the way to the next industrial revolution by becoming the first "sustainable corporation", and eventually a restorative enterprise. |
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Design for Disassembly
We can find design rules for manual disassembly over which there can be mild disagreement about some of the details. We can also find design rules for shredding - pushing a product through a grinder that then separates the small pieces automatically. There are serious disagreements over how clean the results of the shredding process are. Some manual disassembly will probably be necessary to remove toxic components prior to shredding. These sites show the range of opinion on this perplexing and crucial topic. |
Design for End of Life These simply laid out design guidelines for disassembly and recycling give justifications for each rule. |
| Electronic Waste Risks This site describes the threat of electronic waste to our future. | |
| DfD This site from the Manchester Business School thoroughly lays out design for disassembly according to materials, fasteners, and structure. The bibliography is exhaustive. | |
| Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers The IEEE organizes the annual International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment (ISEE) and publishes the substantive technical papers. | |
| HP Guidelines This site section includes HP's voluntary Design for Environment guidelines. Their DfE program has three priorities: energy efficiency, materials innovation and design for recycling. | |
| Sharp Recycling Technologies Sharp has used prototype memory material that return to its original shape as it is heated, thus allowing heat to disassemble the product into separate pieces. | |
| Hobi Electronic Product Shredding Hobi International Inc. is a recycling company specializing in electronic products. It describes the usefulness of shredding in reclaiming small consumer devices such as cell phones and PDAs. | |
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International Society for Industrial Ecology The ISIE provides an extensive bibliography where design for disassembly information can searched. |
| E-scrap News E-scrap news reports extensively on the quickly evolving North American electronic waste situation. | |
| Ecodesign Guide This Danish site outlines reasons for construction and joining method decisions. | |
| Demanufacturing This study reviews the de-manufacturing process for electronic products with focus on the automated removal of screws from electronic assemblies. | |
| Georgia Tech Recycling Georgia Tech also offers this disassembly and recycling presentation covering material choice, component design, fastener usage and computer based tools. | |
| Heat Memory Fasteners Nokia describes its approaches to design for disassembly. | |
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Computer Recycling Computer system recycling is described in this article. |
| Shredding Technologies Different types of shredding for different materials are described here. | |
| Shredding Machines This website describes and shows many kinds of shredding technologies. | |
| Electronics Recycling The National Recycling Coalition gives electronic product recycling resources. | |
| Plastic Recycling The American Plastics Council offers a search engine for articles on plastic recovery, reuse and recycling. |
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Human Power
2005 US health studies recommend that people exercise vigorously for between 20 and 60 minutes each day. How can designers connect people's need to exercise with useful and enjoyable products? Bicycle power is crucial because legs hold the most powerful muscles in the human body. |
International Human Powered Vehicle Association IHPVA can help you design and build a human powered transport system. The interactive forum is helpful. |
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Workbike This site offers the latest bicycle news and updates from around the world. The research section is packed with knowledge. |
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Bikefix This UK site offers an extensive directory of different types of bikes and an interactive repair guide. |
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Eartheasy The eartheasy site contains facts and products from hand powered lawn mowers to wind-up radios and flashlights. |
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Freeplay Energy Freeplay Energy makes the famous Freeplay radio, designed to provide information access in African communities where grid power is unavailable. They focus on empowering, responsible projects. |
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WISIL WISIL is a human powered vehicle group from Wisconsin and Illinois with a helpful "how to" page. |
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Windstream Power Windstream Power's page gives human power nomenclature and estimates of the amount of power that can be produced by an average person. They sell generators that retrofit bikes for stationary pedaling. |
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Wearable Computer This Swiss site is describes a wearable computer system that uses kinetic and human powered components. |
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Icehouse Icehouse informs on choosing a recumbent bike with a photo gallery. |
| NASA Human Power The NASA photogallery for human powered aircraft gives background information and keywords for search engines. | |
| Varna Orpheus The Varna Orpheus vehicle is described with technical specs and images. | |
| Inventors HP Airplane This short biography on Paul MacCready describes the design of the first human powered airplane. | |
| Human Powered Boats This enjoyable site gives photos of human powered boat designs, a "What's new" page with chat rooms, and a listing gatherings. | |
| HP Hovercraft Universal sells plans for build-it-yourself, human-powered hovercraft. | |
| American Society of Mechanical Engineers This an annual challenge to build human powered vehicles has criteria that include elegance and ingenuity of the design, including presentation, practicality and safety. | |
| Recumbents Races Many different categories of land vehicles are raced in scheduled events. | |
| MIT Power Shoes The Parasitic Power Shoes Project documents an MIT project to harvest energy via a shoe-mounted generator. It includes video clips and papers on piezoelectric and magnetic footwear power generation. | |
| California Polytech Helicopter California Polytech promotes human powered vehicles and includes information about a human powered helicopter. | |
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Technical University of Delft's Human Power site This links to abstracts of student research on human powered products. |
| Human Powered Paper Vehicle Competition Eastern Washington U. challenges teams to design human-powered vehicles constructed of 90% paper content. |
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Life Cycle Assessment
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the comprehensive measurement and quantification of a broad range of long-term global environmental impacts, encompassing all phases in the life of a product and all parts of the product, including energy consumption and packaging. This objective and comprehensive methodology is growing in international importance. |
US Environmental Protection Agency LCA This EPA link gives information on why LCA is beneficial with many useful links. |
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The Earthster Project The Earthster Project is designed to provide an open source, free tool for LCA, as well as allowing for non-LCA attributes (social indicators, certifications, etc.) |
| Tool for Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and Environmental Impacts TRACI is the new LCA characterization method developed by the US EPA. Prior to TRACI, US scientists primarily relied on European characterization models. TRACI was used to create the Okala Impact factors for common materials and processes. | |
| LCA Nomenclature This site introduces basic terminology and impact assessment concepts. | |
| Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry SETAC is the international organization for LCA specialists. | |
| Simapro Simapro is designer friendly and affordable LCA software offering North American process profile data. | |
| IDEMAT Prepared by the Design for Sustainability Program at the Delft University, IDEMAT is a powerful tool for material selection, providing a database with technical information about materials, processes and components. | |
| Fivewinds Five Winds offers examples of integrating LCA in the product development process. | |
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United Nations Environment Program UNEP offers basic LCA information. |
| Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment EIOLCA is a tool created at Carnegie Mellon U. that allows tracing of economic transactions and environmental emissions from a product. | |
| Cell Phone LCA The Environmental Literacy Council gives an example of the life cycle analysis with a cell phone. | |
| LCA Examples This document offers suggestions of possible LCA classroom assignments. | |
| LCA & Environmental Management This SETAC Working Group investigates the relationship of LCA with environmental management. | |
| LCA and ecodesign This link provides information on the role of LCA in green design. | |
| Aluminum Lifecycle This Aluminum industry site discusses the affects of aluminum on the environment over its lifecycle. | |
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Packaging LCA This link looks at the assessed impacts of aluminum and glass in soft drink packaging. |
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LCA & Product Design This hot list introduces LCA in the product design process. |
| LCA Process This clearly illustrated presentation gives an easy to understand description of the LCA process. | |
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LCA Examples RMIT University in Australia describes assessments done at their Centre for Design as well as LCA publications. |
| LCA Denmark The LCA Center Denmark promotes the consideration of environmental impact by providing information and assistance to companies. The Center also offers a free newsletter. |
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Materials
Antimicrobial Alternatives
Anti-microbial additives are often mixed with detergents and occasionally in plastics to reduce the existence of bacteria, viruses and fungi. The downside of these agents is seriously compromised sewage treatment, "dead zones" in aquatic habitats and dubious actual health benefits. Are there alternatives to anti-microbial compounds?| Rohm & Haas The "products and applications" section of this Rohm and Haas site offers a detailed explanation of what antimicrobials are and what they are used for. | |
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Alternatives This report discusses PolyMedix's biomimetic polymers and a biologically inert ceramic zeolite. The report covers science behind each of the technologies as well as applications. |
| Science Direct In this impressive collection of science and medicine bibliographic information. You can search for articles about anti-microbial resistance or plastic additives. | |
| Additive Alternatives This report explains in what fields anti-microbial additives are used and the problems they create. It names some alternatives for anti-microbial additives that may perform better. | |
| Triclosan This article discusses Triclosan and other anti-microbial additives in foods and other products that we consume on a daily basis, and the resulting health effects of this. | |
| Microbe Library MicrobeLibrary is a collection of peer-reviewed resources for teaching microbiology. A subscription is required to view articles about anti-microbial agents. | |
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Anti-microbial Alternatives for Plastics This report discusses alternatives that were tested for human dermatological compatibility and fulfill the strict requirements of the European Commission and the US FDA for cosmetics. |
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Binders, Glues and Bioplastics
Organic fibers from trees, grass and bamboo are a renewable and potentially environmentally friendly material, assuming that proper care for the natural environment is taken in their production. The binders that hold them together are highly technical and unfortunately can be toxic. There are three formaldehyde-releasing binders: Urea-formaldehyde (highest formaldehyde emissions); Melamine-formaldehyde (less formaldehyde emissions); Phenol-formaldehyde (least emissions). There is also di-isocyanate (similar to super-glue, with other dubious emissions) and water-soluble polyvinyl acetate (PVA, similar to white wood glue). Do any of the particleboard manufacturers state their binder type, and are there suppliers of new binders? Also learn about the growing range of biopolymers that are increasingly available.| Hallelulia! Soy-based glue in particle board PureBond is a non- formaldehyde added, non-isocyanate board with a soy binder. Can someone please supply the lifecycle chemical flow data for this soy-binder? | |
| Ligno-cellulosic Composites This site describes in detail the manufacturing process of conventional ligno-cellulosic composites. It proposes possibilities for resin-free adhesives for particleboard and fiberboard. | |
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National Particleboard Association NPA requires membership but has information on binders. |
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Adhesive and Sealant Council ASC is a North American trade association represents the adhesive and sealant industry. Membership is required. |
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Ecosynthetix The EcoStix family of waterborne adhesives claims to turn off in response to the paper recycling process. |
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Simalfa SIMALFA can be sprayed, is a one-part, water based adhesive that bonds instantly and is used for bonding a vast range of materials. |
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Sierra Pine Sierra Pine produces sheets that are Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) certified, no-added formaldehyde medium density fiberboard (MDF) panels engineered for non-structural applications and can be used in place of sanded plywood or solid wood. |
| Glue from Milk You can follow this how-to guide to make your own non-toxic adhesive from milk. | |
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Biopolymer This comprehensive site provides in-depth information on biopolymers created form starch, lactic acid, wood, etc. and also includes information on coatings, fibers, products, injection molding, sites, design and organizations. |
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Polylactic Acid Cargill Dow makes compostable products from PLA (polylactic acid), a biodegradable polymer derived from corn. Applications include rigid thermoforms, biaxially-oriented films, bottles, apparel, non-woven carpet, fiberfill, household and institutional fabrics. |
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O2 Biopolymers O2 describes biopolymers based on starch, sugar, cellulose, and synthetic materials. They address developments in biodegradable polymers, scaling-up of production, and improvement of product properties. |
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Hydrolene Hydrolene is a Polyvinyl-Alcohol-based plastic with technical and mechanical characteristics that claim to be better than those of PE and PP but is water soluble, biodegradable, and non-toxic. |
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Treeplast Treeplast is a biodegradable material made from wood chips (50%), crushed corn and "natural" resins. It claims to be processable in traditional plastic-processing machines. It can be finished like wood. |
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Vegemat Vegemat is a rigid plastic material created from corn, and claims to be 100% biodegradable and injection moldable. |
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Biodegradable Products Institute BPI is an association of government, industry and academia, which promotes the use and composting of biodegradable polymeric materials. It promotes adoption of scientifically based standards. |
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Agroplastics AgroPlastic is a polypropylene or polyethylene manufactured using filler derived from wheat straw. It was jointly developed by Pinnacle Technology and the USDA Forest Products Laboratory. |
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Soyworks This new soybean-based plastic claims to be as durable and functional as traditional plastic. It comes from a renewable resource and when it degrades it returns nutrients back to the earth. |
| Sunflower Foam This foam made from sunflower oil can be used in bedding, furniture and automotive applications. | |
| Symphony Environmental Symphony Environmental offers a plastics additive that it claims will cause common plastics (PE, PP and so forth) to degrade completely and harmlessly. Applications include post-consumer packaging such as bread or garbage bags. |
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Green Fabrics
The two types of "green" fabrics most cited are organic cotton and those made from recycled plastics. Here are a few sources for green fabrics. |
Organic Cotton This extensive listing of companies that supply organic cotton products can be helpful. Searching under "United States" in the "Choose a Country" box brings up 238 records of companies with contact information. |
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Carolina Mills Carolina Mills Genesis II line of fabrics include reclaimed cotton and EcoSpun, a material made from 100% post-consumer PET from recycled soft drink bottles. |
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The Organic Pages The Organic Trade Association's site contains a vast number of fiber and textile links. |
| Treehugger Clothing This light-hearted site offers a impressive range of greenish apparel and baggage. | |
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Ecomall This site links to hundreds of companies selling green products including clothing made from organic and eco-friendly fabrics. |
| Polylactic Acid INGEO sells compostable fabric made from polylactic acid (PLA) plastic derived from plant sources. | |
| Sustainable Cotton Project This Project advocates organic cotton by supporting awareness of the destructiveness of conventional cotton. The term "sustainable" is mis-used here because the laborers are not unionized, although they are in a healthier situation than those in conventional cotton fields. |
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Ecofriendly Materials
Designers should be cautious about using the terms "green material", "ecological material", and "sustainable material" because materials usually create some level of global warming gases, potentially toxic emissions, damage to natural habitats, and/or resource depletion. Some materials create less of these environmental impacts than others, and we must be clear and honest with our clients about the relative scale of the impacts that each material creates. Secondarily, if a material claims to be "sustainable" it should provide documentation (preferably from an impartial 3rd party certifier) about how the social and economic needs of the workers required in its production are being met.| Green Materials This comprehensive Australian site offers resources for learning about green materials. | |
| Biopolymer This site gives in-depth information on a wide range of plant-derived materials. | |
| Biodegradable Polymer This site describes biodegradable plastic resin created by the U. of Nebraska. | |
| Environmental Bamboo Foundation EBF protects tropical forests by demonstrating the many opportunities that bamboo offers. As with other bio-fibers, be cautious about the binding agents used with bamboo materials. | |
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Bamboo Hardwoods Bamboo Hardwoods produces bamboo products ranging from flooring, furniture, and plywood. |
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Bamboard This site describes the process of making, installing, caring for bamboo floors. |
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Material ConneXion Material ConneXion is a member only, on-line database with physical libraries in New York, Bangkok, Cologne and Milan that contain samples, specifications and manufacturer's contacts for over 3,500 innovative materials. Plus every month up to 50 new materials are voted into the ever growing library. It is well worth a field trip. |
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MatWeb MatWeb has a searchable database for material properties of polymers, metals, and ceramics. It unfortunately doesn't give information about environmental impacts of the materials listed. |
| Biodegradable Products Institute The BPI site allows you to search for "approved products" that claim to "compost quickly and safely, without any persistent residues". | |
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Flexformtech FlexForm is a composite made from a blend of plant fibers and polypropylene. |
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Environ Biocomposites Environ's biocomposite is a solid board product that is made from recycled paper-products and rapidly renewable agricultural resources and offers the warmth and feel of an exotic hardwood. |
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Rematerialise Rematerialise offers a photogenic range of free information about materials that it claims are "sustainable". Sparse information is given on this site, so it is difficult to know if a given material is more or less "green" than another. |
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Green construction materials This extensive overview gives succinct information on a wide variety of materials. Although it may be somewhat optimistic about claims of many of suppliers, it offers information on flooring, paints, adhesives and much more. |
| Wellboard Well board is 100% unbleached kraft paper with no additives. The semi-structural paper bends on one axis. | |
| Hemplite Hemplite is a skate ramp material made from fast-growing, environmentally sustainable abaca fibers. Abaca is a type of banana plant noted for its fibers used in weaving. | |
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Industrial Hemp This industrial hemp website features books, videos, activism & lobbies, legislation, higher education and references on hemp. Industrial hemp has no psychological effect if smoked. |
| Solar Plastic This flexible translucent film from Japan contains photovoltaic spheres. | |
| Soyworks This plastic is made from soybean oil. | |
| Sustainable Design Resource Guide This guide provides information on metals, woods, plastics, and building materials, describing the environmental benefits and drawbacks of each. | |
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Innovation magazine Innovation magazine is a hot place to explore new materials. |
| Materia This stimulating site that enables you to search by material group, sensorial properties, technical properties or keyword.. It is unclear how ecologically detailed the information will be. |
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Green Chemistry
Phenomenal green chemists are searching for designers to couple up with. Get up your gumption and hook-up with these braniacs! |
EPA Green Chemistry The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Chemistry link "promotes innovative chemical technologies that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture, and use of chemical products." |
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Center for Green Chemistry The Center at Lowell, U. Mass, is a US leader in this burgeoning field. |
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Green Chemistry Institute The American Chemical Society's Green Chemistry Institute (GCI) promotes national and international government-industry collaboration with universities and national laboratories. |
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U. of Oregon This site lists people and organizations who are active in green chemistry. |
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Greenlinks This site has an extensive list of green chemistry sites. |
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Green Chemistry Network The Green Chemistry Network at the U. of York (UK) promotes awareness and practice of green chemistry in industry and academia. |
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Green Chemistry Center of Industrial Collaboration The Center (UK) provides solutions that enable chemical production that is more profitable, less wasteful, less damaging to the environment and more socially acceptable. |
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Lead-free Solders
Lead is a toxic, bio-accumulative metal. Its use for circuit board solder is being phased out by the European Union directive on Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). Virtually all international companies are abandoning lead solder - so what are the best lead-free solders? (This technical subject is not for the faint of heart.)| Lead Free Assembly Project This project studies lead free solder alternatives conducted by the US National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative to replace lead in soldering. Detailed technical comparisons are made between the different alloys, their chemical properties, reliability and prices. | |
| National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative The NEMI page links to papers on lead-free electronics issues. | |
| Alloy Comparison This site compares six alloy alternatives - Antimony, Bismuth, Copper, Indium, Silver, Tin - and lead as a baseline for comparison and draws up a "toxicity metric" to concretely compare the effects of each material on health and environment. | |
| Solder Comparison Three candidate solders were tested and compared on several variables. | |
| Lead-free Testing Using mechanical tests, temperature cycle tests, and wetting balance tests, scientists evaluated a Pb-free solder. | |
| CASTIN This site highlights the development process for CASTIN, a lead-free alloy. | |
| Solder comparisons An in-depth view of the three likely substitutes for lead as solder materials - Sn/Ag, Sn/Ag/Cu and Sn/Cu alloys - and compares the reliability testing results and process considerations for them. | |
| Circuit assembly NEMI demonstrates that lead-free manufacturing may be possible using existing production tools and equipment. | |
| Lead-Free Links This is an excellent directory of links to lead-free solder initiatives and studies. | |
| Aim Solder This article explains considerations when sourcing lead-solder alternatives. It is helpful for the non-scientific designer. | |
| EPA Solderfacts This simple PDF from the U.S. EPA describes why solders are being evaluated and research work being conducted. | |
| Lead-free Questions Frequently asked questions on "lead-free" are answered. | |
| Lead-free Soldering ECD provides information on lead-free soldering with links to industry resources and technical articles. | |
| Chipscale Review This helpful soldering overview describes the legislative and environmental aspects of solder. | |
| Tin-based Solders This link describes the properties of lead-free, tin-based solders. | |
| National Center for Manufacturing Sciences The Center produced a report studying many lead-free solder alternatives. Unfortunately, this report must be purchased. | |
| UK National Physics Library This Library lists literature in this field, alloy properties, and links to other sites. | |
| Solder Trade-offs This brief introduction to alternatives for lead in solder discusses benefits and trade-offs of each alternative. |
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Non-brominated Flame-retardants
Brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) are bio-accumulative and potentially toxic substances that are increasingly present in the bodies of people (and other animals) around the world. European Union laws are phasing out the use of two types of BFR's. These are polybrominated biphenyls (PBB's) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE's). They are being phased out on circuit boards, plastic housings and polyurethane furniture cushions. Progressive companies are phasing out the use of brominated substances in their products altogether. Scientific testing will determine which BFR alternatives are the most technically feasible and safe for human and ecological health. The following sites outline BFR substitute candidates.| Lowell Center for Sustainable Production This report gives an overview of BFRs and a list of alternatives. | |
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BFR Typology This link gives a thorough breakdown of the various types of BFRs, with extensive references. |
| Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition This alarming report reviews the dangers of BFR in household dust from electronic products. The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition provides additional information on BFRs and their substitutes. | |
| Danish EPA This extensive Danish site explains brominated flame-retardants uses, risks and alternatives. | |
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Dell This Dell Computer site gives BFR figures. |
| European Brominated Flame Retardant Panel The Panel homepage provides industry arguments to continue the use of BFRs. | |
| BFR Alternative Properties This page describes issues relating to alternative flame-retardants and their properties. | |
| Circuitboard Flame Retardant Sentega has a bromide-free circuitboard flame retardant that meets FMVSS302 criteria. |
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Paints & Finishes
Powder coating releases fewer toxic and volatile organic compound (VOC) air emissions than "wet" paints because it sticks by electrostatic force and is dryer. Many "green" claims can be made about paints and finishes of various types. Be cautious before believing any claim or approving of any paint or finish.| Volatile Organic Compound Reduction The EPA outlines steps to minimize VOCs, which are one of the greatest health hazards posed by finishes. | |
| Low-VOC Overview Toolbase Services gives an overview of low and no-VOC paints. There are no OSHA and the EPA building code limitations on low-VOC paint use. | |
| Weatherbos This is a technically accurate and comprehensive discussion of VOCs. Weatherbos claims to offer "environmentally safe" finishes for wood products. | |
| Workplace Risks This site talks about the harms of paints in the workplace. | |
| Toluene Risks This article describes the solvent toluene, which is used in some paints and paint thinners. Exposure to it can damage the nervous system, kidneys and memory. | |
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Dupont DuPont provides information about automobile paints, interior and exterior coatings and describes some environmental facts of each product. |
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Eartheasy Eartheasy offers background in the toxicity of finishes and outlines non-toxic paint types. |
| Bioshieldpaint BioShield Paints produces interior low-toxicity paints, wood finishes and household cleaners. | |
| Nippon This site depicts the Nippon Company's efforts for environment-friendly products. | |
| Worldwatch This site shows statistics concerning the toxins in paints and alternatives to such chemicals. | |
| Green Choices This site gives suggestions and alternatives to current harmful paint products. | |
| Surlyn Dupont has developed the Surlyn(R) thermoplastic powder coating to save money and eliminate a large percentage of VOCs. | |
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Products Finishing Online PFO has information on painting, plating, powder coating, mechanical finishing, cleaning, environmental (pollution control), anodizing, and electrocoating. |
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Alliance Surface Finishing ASF (Canada) has a powder coating plastic process that is more environmentally friendly than wet paint technology or electroplating. |
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Powder Coat Central Over 100 articles on powder coating and the environment are available here. |
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Powder Coating on Plastic The Iowa Energy Center researches the life cycle of powder coating compared to traditional wet paints. Statistics compare application to different plastics. |
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Green Finishes This site on green finishes includes coatings for concrete, masonry and steel, mastic removers, lime-derived plaster, paint strippers, recycled paints, and sealers. Membership is required. |
| Osaka Paint This site links to articles about new kinds of paint. | |
| Northwest Builders Network This link offers a variety of paints, stains, thinners, waxes, polishes, and cleaners that claim to be non-toxic, and 100% biodegradable. | |
| Hardwax Oil OSMO Hardwax oil claims to be a "natural", low-toxic alternative to polyurethane floor finishes. This site compares costs between the two. | |
| Waterborne Floor Finish BonaKemi offers a waterborne floor finish that reduces the VOC level to only about 20% of most solvent-based polyurethane finishes. | |
| Biological Drying Agent This article describes "Euphorbia lagascae," a weed that produces vernolic acid that might replace environmentally damaging drying solvents. | |
| Paint Impact Comparison This lifecycle assessment of paint was performed by several paint companies. It compares the impacts on the greenhouse effect, low level ozone, acidification, and water eutrophication from solvent-based varnish, powder paint, and solvent-based alkyd paint. | |
| Biodegradable Paint Earth Born (UK) uses energy efficient processes to produce paints from biodegradable ingredients. | |
| Greenseal Paint Report This treport shows the results of the Greanseal paint evaluation and certification. | |
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Green Building Store This UK site answers questions about "natural" paints regarding safety and environmental issues. |
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Boat Paint Risks UK Marine addresses the potential effects of copper-based, antifouling paints and reviews other biocides in paints used on boats that harm marine life. |
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Auro Paints Auro paints, stains and sealers claim not to emit solvent vapors into the air and have binding agents that are made from regenerative raw materials. |
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Milk Paint Milk Paint contains "all-natural" ingredients (milk protein, lime, clay, and pigments such as ochre, umber, iron oxide, and lampblack). |
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Paint Overview Greenhouse provides information the four main categories of paint and what ingredients cause harm. A compilation of "natural paint" suppliers is listed. |
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Benjamin Moore Benjamin Moore provides information about paint content, environmental policies, lead issues, and material safety data sheest for their products. |
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Paper, Recycled or Certified
Like wood, paper is a material with complex ecological characteristics. If the paper pulp fibers derive from wood - as most do - has the wood pulp been certified sustainable (see Certified sustainable wood)? The wood fiber may be leftover waste from lumber mills. Non-wood fiber papers are increasingly available. If the pulp is from another fiber source, is that a more environmentally friendly source than wood? Does the paper contain recycled paper content (either factory scrap or post-consumer waste), and if so, how much? Energy for paper processing often comes from burning wood fiber waste. Was the paper pulp bleached with chlorine or a more ecologically friendly process? Printing processes include a range of technologies and chemicals with a vast range of potential environmental impacts. Paper recycling usually uses fossil fuels and requires de-inking processes but is usually less ecologically damaging than virgin paper production. The following links can help you navigate through these questions to find the best paper supplier for your project. |
Forest Stewardship Council FSC certified paper products use wood pulp fibers that were grown in an environmentally responsible way. |
| Newleaf Paper New Leaf uses the highest percentage possible of recycled fibers with no chlorine derivatives. It manufactures the first FSC certified recycled paper (50% FSC certified virgin fiber, 30% post-consumer, 50% total recycled). | |
| Recycled Products Cooperative This US cooperative promotes the use of recycled paper. | |
| Paper Recycling Economics This site tracks developments in paper recycling economics with an extensive database. | |
| Recycled Paper Certifications These suppliers of recycled papers give definitions on certifications like NAPM, Blue Angel and HMSO score. | |
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Treeco By offering over 25,000 items that are recycled, non-toxic or biodegradable, Treeco claims to reduce overall environmental impacts. |
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Greg Barber Printing Greg Barber prints using recycled paper, tree free paper, chlorine free paper, soy inks or 100% nontoxic toners. It sells digital printing and avoids film and chemicals in the printing process. |
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Living Tree Paper Living Tree Paper Company is changing the pulp offer printing and writing papers made from non-wood fibers and post-consumer waste. |
| Ecoprint Ecoprint provides information on chlorine free paper stocks. | |
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Agricultural Residue Paper Fiber Futures uses agricultural residues and non-wood plant fiber for building materials, paper and textiles. |
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Paper Comparison The Conservatree guide describes the advantages and disadvantages of various grades of recycled paper. |
| Amazonia Paper This handmade, tree-free paper made from Amazononian resources is applicable for printing. | |
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Agripulp Agripulp describes their pulping technology that is energy efficient and ecologically sound. |
| Hemp Paper Islandnet lists the components and advantages of their tree-free, hemp-based paper. | |
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Tree-free Papers The Smart Paper Project outlines alternatives like agripulp and kenaf, along with a list of suppliers of tree-free, recycled and certified paper. |
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More Tree-free Paper (Link 1),
(Link 2) Watershed lists advantages of tree-free paper and describes solutions with a directory of suppliers. |
| Treecycle Treecycle describes the advantages of post-consumer recycled papers, chemicals, and alternative fibers. | |
| Reduce Office Paper Waste Waste at Work illustrates the extensive waste of paper in the office and gives solutions to it. | |
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Paper Recycling Process This site provides in-depth descriptions of the many components used in the recycling of paper. |
| Impacts of Paper Recycling Friends of the Earth exposes the energy needed for and the pollution created by paper recycling. It recommends ways to decrease ecological impacts of paper making. | |
| Paper Cycle Recommendations FOE also developed this in-depth report with recommendations for a sustainable paper cycle. | |
| Woodwise Woodwise lists steps to create "a sustainable paper future". |
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PVC Alternatives
Many environmentalists abhor PVC, primarily because if it is burned below 700 degrees C and in the presence of other hydrocarbons, it produces dioxin, one of the most toxic substances ever studied. Critics note that burning paper, other plastics or most types of garbage with small amounts of salt also create similar quantities of dioxin. It's a controversial topic, to put it mildly. Uses of PVC include cable and wire coverings, packaging (including medical products), automobile interiors and architectural applications such as windows, pipes and house siding. Below are some suggested alternatives to PVC. Has anyone yet found a reasonable substitute for (the ubiquitous) PVC covering on electrical cable? |
Greenpeace PVC Alternatives This database addresses building construction: roofing, interiors, siding, windows, electrical, and piping. They suggest using wood as household siding, floors, and windows/doors instead of PVC, linoleum (made of renewable plant materials) for flooring, and using copper, galvanized steel or aluminum for piping. |
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Alternatives for PVC in Medical Products This UK link deals with PVC alternatives in the medical devices field. It covers the pros and cons of using ethylene vinyl-acetate (EVA), polyester, polyolefin mixtures, and metallocene-based polyolefins in products such as tubing and blood bags. |
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Non-PVC Building Materials Checnet describes alternatives to PVC for building materials. Information about the risks of PVC is difficult to find. |
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PVC Risks This article out of the UK argues against PVC because:
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PVC Health Care Risks The Health Care Without Harm website outlines the harmful effects of PVC used in medical devices and identifies two key problems associated with PVC: Dioxin and DEHP (Di-2-EthylHexyl Phthalate). |
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PVC-free Building This link documents alternatives to PVC for building materials and explains the hazards of PVC. |
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PVC-free Pipe This report provides a preliminary analysis of PVC-free pipe in construction with supporting charts and statistics. |
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Clean Car Campaign The Clean Car Campaign site details the hazards of PVC plastic in car disposal. It states that phthalates have been found in wastewater after washing textiles and that a significant amount is being washed out from underbody coating of cars. |
| PVC Industry This PVC industry site compares PVC to other alternatives and questions many Greenpeace findings on PVC. |
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Recycled Metals
Recycled metals can create far lower emissions than metals smelted from raw ore because far less energy is required in the process. If you are using metals, demand documentation of the highest possible recycled content. Contamination or impure sources need to be checked, and sourcing takes time. These sites are a place to start.| Imco Recycling IMCO Aleris Recycling (Ohio) claims to be the largest aluminum & zinc recycling company in the world. The site details aluminum & zinc recycling and terminology. | |
| All Florida Scrap Metal All Florida Scrap Metal, Inc. imports and buys scrap metal. | |
| Alter Trading Corporation ATC is a large scrap processor with many sites in the US, handling ferrous and non-ferrous metals. | |
| Commercial Metals Commercial Metals (Texas) is a large processor of ferrous & non-ferrous scrap metals. | |
| INMETCO INMETCO (Pennsylvania) recycles nickel, chromium, iron, molybdenum, cadmium bearing waste and nickel-cadmium batteries. The site describes the process of heavy metal removal. | |
| Metal Management, Inc Metal Management (Chicago) claims to be one of America's largest full-service scrap metal recycler. It markets ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals for resale. | |
| National Metals National Metals is a metal working search engine that connects to fabricators, finishers, and recyclers. | |
| Sunwest Metals SunWest Metals (Califotrnia) recycles ferrous and non-ferrous metals including aluminum, brass, copper, nickel, zinc, and stainless steel. | |
| Universal Scrap Metals Universal Scrap Metals (Chicago) wholesales of nonferrous and ferrous scrap. It specializes in precious metal processing of silver and gold flakes, sludges, PCB electronic scrap and solders (could be toxic!). | |
| Wise Recycling Wise Recycling (Baltimore) claims to be the largest direct-from-the-public collector of aluminum beverage containers in the United States. It recycles aluminum, brass and copper scrap. | |
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Steel Recycling Institute The SRI site describes the steel recycling process. |
| Worldsteel You can check out 3500 types of steel and iron, and the latest news and events. | |
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Cansmart Cansmart is the steel can recycling campaign in Australia. |
| Umicore Precious Metals UPM (Belgium)is processes end-of-life products containing precious metals for electronics. They recycle toxic metals for production. | |
| Asian Recycling Marketplace This Asian recycling marketplace with current commodity pricing is a hot spot! |
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Recycled Plastics
Recycled plastics (referred to as secondary polymers) typically produce lower overall air and water emissions than the emissions created from the production of the primary plastics from raw petroleum. How much less the emissions (and ecological impacts) are depends on the plastic type, transportation and the degree of cleaning and processing needed in the process. As any purchaser will tell you, identifying a supplier of recycled plastics is not a simple process. Finding the quality and reliable supply at the price point requires work and negotiation. These sites are a place to begin.| RecycleNet Corporation RecycleNet trades secondary (recycled) commodities for brokers, dealers, processors and consumers. | |
| Chicago Board of Trade CBOT provides a recyclables exchange dedicated to the international trade of recyclable commodities. | |
| Recycling Business Center The Internet Recycling Business Center is a free-access site dedicated to recycling information. | |
| Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries' Commodities This report is published 24 times a year and focuses on a single scrap commodity in each issue. | |
| Recyling Commodity Market Recycling Manager publishes free-access commodity market summaries. | |
| Waste Age Waste Age publications focus on the solid waste and recycling markets industry. | |
| Recycled Plastic Pricing Plastics News is a general information source for the plastics industry. It lists the national average price of various types of recycled engineering thermoplastics! | |
| Plasticsresource Plasticresource gives legitimate directories that feature recycled plastics. | |
| Plastics Reprocessing This link describes the ways plastics can be reprocessed and their lifetimes extended. | |
| EPA & Recycled Plastics The US Environmental Protection Agency covers many topics on recycled plastics. | |
| Recycled Plastic Vendors The King County, WA, Environmental Purchasing Program organized this handy list of recycled plastic suppliers in North America. | |
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Smile Plastics Smile Plastics (UK) develops innovative ideas and markets for recycled materials, concentrating on multicolored sheets. |
Sources for recycled commodity thermoplastics (LDPE, HDPE, PP, HIPS) | |
| Yemm & Hart Yemm & Hart (Missouri) are manufacturers of colorful recycled content polymers (mostly PE). The site contains specifications and color charts. | |
| Polychem Polychem (MA) is a large polymer recycler. | |
| Chemiplas Chemiplas (TX) has a contact-only site. Their products are bought and sold throughout the U. S., Latin America and the Far East. | |
| Tipco India Tipco is a plastic recycler based in India. | |
| Go Polymers Go Polymers (WA) sells secondary plastics, scrap and regrind. | |
| Bata plastics Bata Plastics (MI) is a family owned company that buys and sells recycled plastics. | |
| ABC Polymers ABC Plastics (GA) is a plastic reprocessing corporation. They offer reprocessing of post consumer plastics. | |
| Adams Plastics Adams Plastics (Chicago) distributes various plastic for labels, printing, heat-sealing, and sewing, made of PVC, PP & PE. | |
Sources for recycled intermediate thermoplastics (ABS, ASA, SAN, PMMA) | |
| Acentech Corp Acentech Corp (Korea) offers a range of recycled polymers. | |
| Ecoplast Corporation Ecoplast (CA) provides post-consumer recycling of plastics and markets recycled resin to manufacturers. | |
| United Plastics United Plastics (AL) specializes in post industrial and post consumer plastics. | |
| Destiny Plastics Destiny Plastics (MI) recycles and upgrades industrial plastic scrap. | |
| Interplastics C & E Interplastics (Germany) sells surplus lots, reprocessed and recycled qualities, industrial qualities, regrinds and scrap. | |
| Gemapolimer GemaPolimer (Turkey) buys, sells, and recycles plastic resins. | |
Sources for recycled engineering thermoplastics (LQP, PA, PC, PBT, POM, PPE, PPO, PSU) | |
| Plastic's Recycling Characteristics This New Zealand site covers each plastic's characteristics, applications and recycling. | |
| SONEPA Plastics SONEPA Plastics (The Netherlands) offers a comprehensive range of thermoplastics. They buy, sell and recycle plastics, rubbers and additives. | |
| Global Serve Global Serve (Singapore) is a plastic and silicone rubber scrap recycling company. It processes PVC and silicone rubber scraps in their recycling facilities in China and Sri Lanka. | |
| CSI Plastics CSI (MA) trades and recycles virgin, off-grade, reprocessed and scrap plastic and fluoropolymers. | |
Sources for recycled thermoset plastics or composites (epoxy, melamine, phenolic, polyester, urea) Thermoset plastics are like cake; once processed they are solid and cannot be melted back into pure recycled plastic (like thermoplastic plastics can). Hence they can be "recycled" as filler typically no more than 30% by weight. | |
| Lord Worldwide LORD Worldwide (NC)has manufacturing capabilities that allow for in-time, cost-effective local production. | |
| Ilnorplex Ilnorplex (IA) provides recycled composite materials. | |
Sources for recycled elastomers (EPDM, SPE, SBS, SIS, SEBS, TPU, TPO, SB, CR, SR, IIR, NBR, NR, PU) | |
| Regupol This Pennsylvania and German manufacturer offers high quality recycled rubber flooring and matting. | |
| Lavergne Group Lavergne (Quebec) offers quality post-consumer and post-industrial recycled plastics. | |
| Rubber Resources Rubber Resources produces, markets and sells butyl rubber reclaim, natural rubber reclaim, and rubber powders, with facilities in Belgium and South Africa. | |
| So.F.Ter. So.F.Ter. (Italy) supplies a wide range of polymer alloys and thermoplastic polymers. |
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Wood, Certified Sustainable
The two predominate types of forests currently are mono-crop farm forests containing one tree species of the same age, and old growth forests that have never been cut containing many species of trees that can be hundreds or thousands of years old. Sustainably managed forests reproduce the conditions in old-growth forests. They are deliberately planted with multiple tree species of different ages to support a healthy diversity of plant and animal life. Certified sustainable lumber is monitored and documented by third-party certifiers, of which the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is among the most comprehensive. It is extremely difficult to receive sustainable certification for wood from tropical forests where the majority of invaluable biodiversity is being lost forever, so PLEASE AVOID USING TROPICAL WOOD UNLESS CERTIFIED DOCUMENTATION IS AVAILABLE.| Protect Old Growth Forests This synopsis of old growth forests lists woods to avoid as well as companies selling certified lumber. | |
| Forest Stewardship Council Certified Wood You can find out about FSC-certified wood in the US and internationally on these sites. | |
| Convention On International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora The important CITES convention is described here. | |
| New England FSC-certified Forests This link lists FSC-certified forests and lumber companies in New England. | |
| Certified Wood in Wisconsin This is a centrally located certified wood supplier. | |
| Certified Wood Products The search engine for certified wood products (CSA or FSC) allows searching for any wood type using the common or scientific name and supplier location. | |
| FSC-certified flooring EcoTimber (Califonia) sells FSC-certified flooring. The search engine may locate a dealer in your area. | |
| Endurawood This Portland, OR, company sells FSC-certified lumber, flooring, decking, and sheet goods. | |
| Collinswood Coliswood (California) sells FSC-certified softwood and hardwood lumber, siding, trim and particleboard. | |
| Forest World Group This group claims to buy certified tropical wood products from sustainable certified, tropical forests. We should be extremely skeptical about any "certified sustainable tropical wood" claims. | |
| Earthsource Wood This California group offers a variety of certified plywood. | |
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Certified Products This site contains an extensive directory of FSC-certified products and sustainability links from North America. |
| European Certified Wood This is an extensive source of certified lumber in Europe. | |
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Windfall Lumber Windfall (Washington) sells certified wood products. |
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Websites are ephemeral information sources; roughly 10% of sites become obsolete annually. The Ecodesign Section will update and expand the lists, possibly with the research assistance of design schools across North America. If you have a site that you think the ecodesign section should add to these lists, please submit the suggested link with a two-sentence description to: philip@orb-design.com . We will make appropriate periodic updates, editing for concision.
We especially thank the many students from the following ID schools who volunteered research: Arizona State University, California College of the Arts, Cleveland Institute of Art, Columbia College Chicago, North Carolina State University, Franklin W. Olin College, Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, San Jose State University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Southern Illinois University, University of Cincinnati, University of Illinois, University of Notre Dame, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Western Washington University
We also thank the educators who edited (and further researched) the lists:
| David Bergman | Parsons School of Design |
| John Caruso | U. of Notre Dame |
| Kimberlee Hartelius | U. of Illinois |
| Benjamin Linder | Franklin W. Olin College |
| Allen Nelson | North Carolina State U. |
| Arunas Oslapus | Western Washington U. |
| Doug Paige | U. of Cincinnati |
| Matthew Snyder | California College of the Arts |
| Philip White | Arizona State University |