" ...you cannot run a linear system on a finite planet indefinitely" - Annie Leonard gives a frighteningly truthful and informative talk in her video: "The Story of Stuff". Extraction, Production, Distribution, Consumption, and Disposal; Leonard has broken down the cycle into five sections.
Extraction is the process of, what Leonard frankly puts it, "trashing the planet". We are using up all the natural resources by mining and cutting down trees, etc. As the planet has a limit, and we've already used up one third of the planet's resources, it's only a matter of time before we have nothing left.
Production uses energy to run factories that pump out toxins into the air, which is not only bad for the surrounding environment, but also for the population. Toxins in, toxins out means we're enclosing ourselves in a toxic habitat and leaves by-products and pollution.
Distribution is the act of selling the goods to keep inventory moving so as to make room for the production for more goods. The cost of products are externalised, we aren't paying for the goods we purchase. It ends up like a reverse domino effect, others are paying for our products; shop assistants pay by receiving poor wages, the people in the production phase are paying by risking their health, and the environment pays by having its resources exhausted.
People consume to upkeep the flow of production, 99% of the material goods we purchase are disposed of within 6 months. This is so because of two reasons: planned obsolescence and perceived obsolescence. Products are intentionally made to break down within a short period of time to accelerate the level of production; the more people buy the more goods can be produced. Perceived obsolescence is an interesting notion, it makes us think that the products we own are out of style and that we need to buy more goods. Advertising and the media target consumers to think they are less than they are, thus buying more material goods. Advertising brainwashes consumers into thinking they need to ‘keep up with the Jones’ in order to be happy. It seems like a vicious cycle; we work then come home and watch TV to then be bombarded with advertisements that tell us to shop, go out and buy things we most likely don’t need then go back to work to pay off the things we buy. The pattern repeats itself and therefore keeps the cycle of material goods alive.
It's shocking to find out how the products we purchased are disposed of landfill and incineration don't seem like healthy options for both the planet and its inhabitants. Industrial designers need to look into more sustainable options when designing goods. Recycling is an effective alternative to eliminate the extraction stage. By keeping the cycle of material goods in mind, industrial designers have the chance to make intentional responsible decisions when it comes to making products.
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