The technology is not cheap – up to 40% of a power station's energy could end up being used to run the CCS scrubbing and transport systems and experts estimate the average cost of retro-fitting Britain's aged power stations at about £1bn each. The last method is often used in a process called 'enhanced oil recovery', where CO2 is pumped into an oil field to force out the remaining pockets of oil that would otherwise prove difficult to extract. Once the CO2 has been trapped, it is liquefied, transported – sometimes for several hundred miles – and buried, either in suitable geological formations, deep underground saline aquifers or disused oil fields. The third method, oxyfuel, burns the coal in an atmosphere with a higher concentration of pure oxygen, resulting in an exhaust gas that is almost pure CO2. Pre-combustion CCS takes place before the fuel is placed in the furnace by first converting coal into a clean-burning gas and stripping out the CO2 released by the process. Refuse - Think twice before buying a product with wasteful packaging or a large carbon footprint.There are three main techniques: the post-combustion process involves scrubbing the power plant's exhaust gas using chemicals.Reduce - Are there products that last longer or can be recharged? Can the miles the product has to travel be cut? Or could rechargeable batteries or locally-sourced products be used?.Rethink - Can the design be remade using a different material? Using a quick-growing, renewable material such as cotton or bamboo would be an alternative to a non-renewable plastic-based fabric such as polyester.

Recycle - Can materials such as metal, plastic and glass be collected and converted? Plastic bottles can be shredded into pellets to make new plastic bottles.Reuse - Can the product be passed on or its life extended by using it repeatedly? Reusable carrier bags from the supermarket are a good example.Repair - Can the product be fixed instead of throwing it away into landfill ? Repairing a washing machine can cost a lot less than buying a new one.To help with this, any or all of ‘the 6 Rs’ could be implemented: Manufacturers, designers and consumers should consider the waste generated when designing. Companies have become more careful in their use of finite resources, and they now consider the ecological footprint caused by using such materials.Įnvironmental considerations for designers, and the 6 Rs Finite resources are popular as they are easily accessible due to strong supply chains and often have benefits for manufacturing particular products or for energy supplies. Metals, plastics and fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil) are all examples of finite resources. noise pollution, eg from the use of heavy machinesįinite resources are non-renewable and will eventually run out.Pollution from the extraction of raw materials, transportation and manufacturing can all contribute to global warming. Modern vehicle design is also improving, with their shape and improved engines reducing fuel consumption. Transport costs impact on retail prices of goods and products, and designers might consider additional factors, such as how a change in material choice for packaging or smarter packing can impact cost. Transport costsĬompanies and manufacturers need to use transport to move goods and products, which can be one of the highest costs for a product, and also can cause lead to pollution. This includes where the resources come from and how they are disposed of at the end of their life. Greater consideration is now given to ensuring that the materials and energy we use are sustainable.

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