(Image above from Choosing Greener Plastics by Jer_Faludi)
This is not a method but a list of resources. There are many places to find new, exotic materials, or just more information on common materials. Some sources list “green” materials only, while others list many “non-green” materials as well, but we need to remember to choose the material that optimizes the sustainability of the whole system. Some sources may list environmental or health impacts alongside physical properties of materials. Some compare common materials, like the Instructables charts. You often get best results by trying several sources which are as listed below to find the best fit material for your product design.
Video Attribution: Video by Autodesk Sustainability Workshop
This video gives more details about how you can improve your choice in materials by knowing the variables to consider. Green Materials: How to Select Non-Toxic Building Materials.
Video Attribution: Video by Autodesk Sustainability Workshop
This video gives more details about material scarcity and abundance, rapidly renewable materials, embodied energy, recycled materials, and toxicity in this video overview. Environmental Properties of Materials, How to Choose Green Materials.
Video Attribution: Video by Autodesk Sustainability Workshop
This video gives more details about Learn about life cycle performance and how it can weigh into trade-offs that exist during material consideration. Physical Properties of Materials, Choosing Green Materials.
Benefits
- No product can be sustainable without sustainable materials.
- No product can be circular without circular materials.
Limitations/Risks
- Materials aren’t the only thing determining sustainability, they must be considered as a part of the greater whole of the product life cycle.
- What is presented here is not a method, it’s a way of exploring resources. For methods to choose better materials, consider life cycle assessment, circularity, toxicity assessment or other methods.