What?
Materials and production methods that in different ways consider the environment in a positive way.
Why?
Environmentally friendly materials are used to minimize pollution and use of resources in materials and production and disposal.
Challenges
- Environmentally friendly materials can be many things and it is just necessary to define, how it is environmental.
- A product may not necessarily be environmental friendly even if the material is.
- Environmentally friendly materials might compete with less expensive alternatives.
Examples
Use of organic cotton instead of conventionally grown cotton; see e.g. the Danish company Organic Basics (www.organicbasics.com).
Conventional plastics (such as Polyester and Nylon) that are made by using renewable components; see for example the Plantbottle initiative (www.coca-colacompany.com/plantbottle-technology).
The company Stenpapir has made an alternative to paper made from wood-pulp that is Cradle to Cradle certified (www.stenpapir.dk)
Further Reading
Allwood & Cullen (2011). Sustainable Materials – With Both Eyes Open: Future Building, Vehicles, Products and Equipment – Made Efficiently and Made with Less New Material. UIT Cambridge.
Fletcher & Grose (2012). Fashion & Sustainability: design for change. Laurence King Publishing, London.
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