ABSTRACT
Chapter 14 discusses products, the materials from which they are made, and the processes used to design and make them. It introduces some of the materials used in manufacturing that are nonrenewable: metals, rare Earth, and sand. The chapter examines the most promising approach to the issues confronting us, a circular economy in which materials cycle indefinitely. Approaches to process design, product alternatives, and product design, including biomimicry, are discussed, as are packaging design, transportation, and sustainable consumption. Standards for certifications and eco-labels are reviewed.
