Material flow design – what is this about?
First of all
- It is not a classical design
Material flows – are called economic goods or also waste (general substances and/or materials), that is moved in the economic system per time unit.
Therefore an output of 5.000 tons jam per year is a material flow as well as the 44 million tons municipal waste accumulating in Germany within a year.
As a result of more than 30 years environmental discussions industrial plants pour out fewer and fewer pollutants into the air and water. Many enterprises installed environmental management systems and document that their emissions are less than ever harmful. They produce - according to the modern term - "eco-efficient".
Nevertheless the economy of matrial flows still has difficulties and in many cases recycling is more an emergency solution than economically reasonable. Where is the problem?
The problem is the design!
Professor Dr. Weise, the former management board member of the Bayer AG, Leverkusen, recognized this very early.
"The material products are the quantitatively largest ‘emissions ‘of
the chemical industry..."
Not only, because the chemical industry is a raw material supplier for a large number of producing enterprises this statement can be generalised for almost all products.
Product developers specify what functions a product has to fulfil. Designers ensure the attractiveness. Therefore the choice of materials is made according to the development of cost and in order to fulfil the requirements to function and attractiveness. That makes sense, because the purchase decision by the user is made in consideration of function, attractiveness and price.
The problem occurs by the time a product becomes waste. At this time one speaks about recycling, pollutants and environmental compatibility. Then there are discussions over sense and nonsense of combustion plants. Unfortunately at this time it is already much too late to change the things.
Material flow can be influenced positively only there, where their composition is decided: In the design!
Therefore material flow design!
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