“Sustainability is a political choice, not a technical one. It’s not a question of whether we can be sustainable, but whether we choose to be.” – Gary Lawrence
Sustainability is like math class.
Before we talk about materials and sustainability, let’s talk about math.
Do you remember that fateful algebra class where the heartbreaking split between the “naturally-gifted” math geniuses and the “I’m not a math person” students began?
I do, and I remember thinking it was odd how many of these math geniuses actually turned out to be complete idiots, and how many of the not-math people were intelligent, analytically-minded, and capable individuals.
Now, as someone far-removed from the toxic grounds of middle school math class, but still in a good relationship with math, I have often gone back to the question of whether math is really difficult, or if we just make it difficult.
Do we teach it the wrong way and mistakenly perpetuate the idea that you will only succeed if you’re genetically destined to, or is it really just the domain of a select few with genetically-determined talent?
The research that has sought to answer this question tells us that actually, there is no such thing as a “math person”.
These are just labels we made up- imaginary constraints made to excuse lazy instruction and embarrassingly low diversity in STEM. It is not that women, Hispanics, black people, and other minorities “just don’t think that way”; it’s that they are systematically force-fed the false narrative that math just isn’t for them.
Now, what does this have to do with materials and sustainability?
Once again, “sustainability” is a word with baggage, and the baggage mostly tells us that to be sustainable is extremely difficult, if not impossible, and that our attempts at it are futile anyway.
Don’t get me wrong; it’s noble to have a high standard.
But also, learning sustainability is a lot like learning math. If we think it’s hard, it will become that way. In the same vein, if we approach it with a patient, open mind, and a willingness to really wrestle with the problem, we are inevitably going to reach a solution.
How To Make Sustainability Easy
#1: Define & Research The Gap.
There’s an Albert Einstein quote I love that goes, “If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.”
What I love about this is (1) it’s uncommon to see implemented in practice, and (2) it’s simple, practical, and right on point.
How many times have you been so insistent on making a particular purchase that you neglect whether it will even solve the problem you think it will? Think: that one guy who overthinks the supplements he should take without having established a clean diet and consistent workout routine.
Instead of jumping to the solution you’re emotionally attached to- like making another random household item out of bamboo or hemp- consider analyzing the deeper problem at hand for a new leverage point you can meaningfully explore.
This is frustrating, I know.
In our 15-second-attention-span, results-driven world, it can feel silly to just sit around and think. It feels like you’re going crazy while everyone else is being productive 25 hours a day.
However, the truth is that when you jump to results too fast without the right consideration of the problem, you might end up focusing on an inefficient answer to your question.
Or worse, you might be tackling the wrong problem altogether.
Creativity is like fishing.
To borrow a concept from Rick Rubin, creativity is like fishing. You have to create the environment for the bait to be in the water, for fish to come, and for you to feel them tugging on your line. Then, (and this is the hardest part) you have to wait.
The fish, like the ideas, will come, I assure you. But will you create the right space to let them in?
If you want to create space for the creativity that will make a difference, but you don’t know how, there are some easy initial steps.
Easy Initial Steps
- To begin with, you can improve the quality of what your brain consumes. Replace 30 second reels with podcasts on your drive home. Replace doom scrolls with books. Make deliberate time to read them.
- Do less. Schedule less. Commit to less. When you whittle down your calendar to only the essential commitments, you will notice there is more time to engage with your ideas. Chances are you might also be less stressed, and more inclined towards creativity as well.
- Have fun. Play. While I stand by the belief that play is a thoroughly atelic activity, an activity that is itself an end, you can also view it as a low-stakes way to boost your creativity and problem-solving ability. This is backed up by research.
#2: Ideate, prototype, iterate.
Part of making an amazing and sustainable product is effectively applying the design process.
For products that help people and the planet both, this is even more important as you continue to see opportunities for growth.
Engage with ideas playfully, and think deeply about how the user will interact with your product. Don’t just think about what your vision is, but also how others engage- not only your intended users, but also professionals with different backgrounds.
One of my favorite examples of this is IDEO coming up with a new shopping cart.
#3: Define your own “enough”.
The thing about the design process is that it just keeps on going.
Because of this, you get to define where the process of prototyping and revising should end.
Here, you need to consider your metrics of success and what you want to achieve.
Applying constraints like this, in which you decide to let go of the project after a certain amount of time or after spending a certain amount of resources, further supports your creativity in coming up with a new approach to solving the problem.
Additionally, it helps you get your work into the world and into the hands of other people.
You can always revisit the design later, although maybe once you step back, you will be able to see a more pressing challenge that calls for your attention.
Sustainability In A Material World
One of the biggest leverage points in making sustainability easy is energy efficiency.
That’s why materials and sustainability go hand-in-hand.
It’s the force multiplier that ripples across industries—from agriculture to aerospace—reducing waste, lowering emissions, and cutting costs.
But what often gets overlooked is this: the key to energy efficiency isn’t just in better systems; it’s in better materials.
Materials determine how much energy is needed to produce, transport, and use a product.
Think about fishing gear that resists biofouling, reducing drag and fuel consumption in boats. Or hospital equipment designed with lightweight, durable composites that make sterilization faster and less energy-intensive.
In agriculture, self-cooling storage materials cut down on the need for constant refrigeration.
In energy storage, advanced battery materials increase charge efficiency, reducing energy loss.
Even in cars and airplanes, switching to ultra-lightweight, high-strength materials slashes fuel consumption dramatically.
By designing for efficiency at the material level, we’re addressing sustainability at its roots. Hence, the perfect marriage: materials and sustainability.
When you are innovating for a more sustainable world, here are some questions you can use to combine what we know about energy-efficient materials and sustainability to make a great product.
Questions To Combine Energy-Efficient Materials And Sustainability
- Where does this material come from? Is it made from renewable, recycled, or non-toxic sources?
- How much energy does it take to produce this material? Does it require lots of heat, water, or electricity to make?
- Is there a lower-energy alternative? Can I replace this with something that takes less energy to produce or use?
- How long does this material last? Will it break down quickly or last for years before needing replacement?
- What happens when it’s thrown away? Is it biodegradable, recyclable, or does it end up in a landfill?
- Does this material help reduce energy use in the product’s life? Can it make the product lighter, more efficient, or better insulated?
- How does this material impact human health? Is it free of harmful chemicals and safe to use?
- What’s the environmental impact of getting this material? Does it involve deforestation, mining, or pollution?
- Is it easy to reuse or repurpose? Can parts of it be taken apart and used for something else later?
- Does this material support a circular economy? Is it part of a system where waste becomes a resource instead of trash?
Thought to Action
- Enter global innovation challenges like the Biodesign Challenge or XPRIZE Circular Economy competitions.
- Write to local policymakers advocating for more research funding and pilot programs in biodegradable materials & circular economy incentives.
- Leverage Free Resources: Learn from free resources online to maximize your awareness of other disciplines, such as statistics, data analysis, and marketing.
- Measure your progress using these 3 journaling ideas to accelerate your success.
- Cultivate An Interdisciplinary Network: Use these techniques to talk to professionals from a range of other fields. Use the expertise of others to see unique solutions at the crossroads of different disciplines.
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9590021
https://www.nrel.gov/analysis/future-system-scenarios.html
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