Task 2a: Recycling

Task 2a: Understanding Recycling

Recycling, re-using and “giving packaging a new life”, in many ways is seen as a resurrection of life that is often under appreciated. Commercialism is brought by the ever increasing demand of products and services that fuel “our” lifestyles. It is “our” way of life that sparks these wants and needs through organic materials and processes such a wood/paper, plastics, glass and metals.


My experience in Germany while I visited during September 2010 changed my perception on what I thought was a very conservative nation. After watch the Duales Systems “Giving Packages a New Life” it has strengthened my experience and perception of Germany as a forward thinking, state of the art and sustainable nation. The German government has encourages recycling by providing a rebate credit on every recyclable product, i.e. glass bottles, PETE bottles, can etc.

The way that the government is pro-active with furthering sustainability in many ways is inspiring and encouraging as it is killing two birds with one stone. It is not only saving the environment in landfill but also producing less energy to recycle a product then creating it from virgin materials, i.e. recycled aluminium is 95% is more energy efficient than comparable raw aluminium. In hindsight after experiencing firsthand the bottle recycling process at the German supermarkets and walking past all the renewable initiatives on the streets I understand why they have done so, money. It has creating a new clean industry, provided jobs and decreased the amount of imported raw goods, while still upholding a self sufficient advanced lifestyle.


It is said that we are phasing into the 6th wave of innovation, founded by Russian economist Nikolai Kondratiev, known as the Kondratiev law of innovation/economy. This 6th wave suggests that our trends and lifestyle is environmentally driven, and more focused on sustainability. Opportunities will arise, as seen in Germany’s recycling programs, technology and systems, demonstrating new force of lifestyle and wellbeing through better and safer goods.

I can safely say that materials and its lifecycle will definitely be in mind when conceptualising new designs. These short segments have demonstrated that there are social and environmental benefits throughout its process being the catalyst for future needs and technological innovations, i.e. the introduction of the steam engine to transportations in railways to communications and recently seen, sustainability.


Overall I personally have seen the impact on sustainability, developing technologies and social benefits of good design using fundamental resources aiding our wellbeing and lifestyle through simple measures of recycling products like glass, metals, paper and woods.