What materials are used?
The Materials criterion examines the environmental and social profile of every material in your product, from raw material extraction through processing to manufacture.
A strong answer demonstrates that materials have been selected with knowledge of their embodied energy, toxicity, recyclability, and supply chain provenance. It shows that the designer has considered alternatives and chosen materials that minimise harm without compromising the product’s function or durability. A weak answer selects materials on cost and availability alone, without considering environmental impact, or uses hazardous substances where safer alternatives exist.
Materials decisions made early in the design process have consequences that run through the entire life cycle. A material that is cheap to source but impossible to recycle creates an end-of-life problem; a material with high embodied energy increases the environmental cost of manufacture. Evaluating materials at the concept stage, rather than after the design is fixed, gives the greatest opportunity to make better choices.
