In fact, why not take nature itself as our model? A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we do not consider its abundance wasteful but safe, beautiful, and highly effective; hence, "waste equals food" is the first principle the book sets forth. Products might be designed so that, after their useful life, they provide nourishment for something new—either as "biological nutrients" that safely re-enter the environment or as "technical nutrients" that circulate within closed-loop industrial cycles without being "downcycled" into low-grade uses (as most "recyclables" now are).
Elaborating their principles from experience redesigning everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, the authors make an exciting and viable case for change.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
August 11, 2008 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781400127610
- File size: 153417 KB
- Duration: 05:19:37
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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AudioFile Magazine
This manifesto of "eco-effectiveness" is one of the overlooked gems in environmental literature. Most environmental pollution is, according to the authors, the result of poor design. Products can be designed to serve their function and, once discarded, to nourish the biosphere or provide high-quality materials for technical production. In a wonderfully clear (if occasionally singsong) voice, Stephen Hoye does much to present the sometimes-challenging material at a pace the listener can absorb. The audiobook is not always the best format for these visual thinkers. Their "eco-effectiveness fractal" diagram is available from the Tantor Media Web site. Once you've decided to listen to the book, you can download it and carry it with you. F.C. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine -
Publisher's Weekly
February 11, 2002
Environmentalists are normally the last people to be called shortsighted, yet that's essentially what architect McDonough and chemist Braungart contend in this clarion call for a new kind of ecological consciousness. The authors are partners in an industrial design firm that devises environmentally sound buildings, equipment and products. They argue that conventional, expensive eco-efficiency measures—things like recycling or emissions reduction—are inadequate for protecting the long-term health of the planet. Our industrial products are simply not designed with environmental safety in mind; there's no way to reclaim the natural resources they use or fully prevent ecosystem damage, and mitigating the damage is at best a stop-gap measure. What the authors propose in this clear, accessible manifesto is a new approach they've dubbed "eco-effectiveness": designing from the ground up for both eco-safety and
cost efficiency. They cite examples from their own work, like rooftops covered with soil and plants that serve as natural insulation; nontoxic dyes and fabrics; their current overhaul of Ford's legendary River Rouge factory; and the book itself, which will be printed on a synthetic "paper" that doesn't use trees. Because profitability is a requirement of the designs, the thinking goes, they appeal to business owners and obviate the need for regulatory apparatus. These shimmery visions can sound too good to be true, and the book is sometimes frustratingly short on specifics, particularly when it comes to questions of public policy and the political interests that might oppose widespread implementation of these designs. Still, the authors' original concepts are an inspiring reminder that humans are capable of much more elegant environmental solutions than the ones we've settled for in the last half-century.
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