New book urges design to lead the transition to sustainable materials

As the environmental and health impacts of plastics become increasingly impossible to ignore, a groundbreaking book provides industrial designers and manufacturers with the essential knowledge to transition toward sustainable material choices. 

Rethinking Plastics in Product Design: A Guide to Sustainable Transitions for the Environmental Emergency, by Geoff Isaac, is a must-read for professionals engaged in designing and manufacturing consumer goods that incorporate plastics. The book presents a compelling call to action, equipping industry professionals with the strategies and insights needed to drive meaningful change.

Plastics have become the default material in consumer product design due to their lightweight, durability, and affordability. However, their widespread use has catastrophic environmental and health consequences. With increasing global pressure to phase out virgin fossil plastics, designers and manufacturers must rethink their approach to material selection. Against this backdrop, Isaac’s book provides an essential guide for designers looking to make responsible material choices.

A Practical Framework for Sustainable Design

Rethinking Plastics in Product Design explores the environmental impact of plastics while presenting practical solutions for transitioning to renewable alternatives. Key strategies outlined in the book include:

• Dematerialisation – Reducing material usage to lower emissions and energy consumption throughout the product lifecycle.
• Prioritising Recycled and Renewable Plastics – Shifting away from virgin plastics and leveraging innovative biobased and recycled materials (each with their own benefits and disadvantages, as detailed in the book).
• Designing for Longevity and Circularity – Creating products that last longer, are easier to repair, and can be effectively recycled.
• Championing the Provenance of Sustainable Plastics – Educating consumers, telling the story of the material’s origins and advocating for renewable materials in design.

Chairs serve as a primary case study throughout the book, showcasing their role as testbeds for innovative materials and influencing broader applications in consumer goods. Isaac examines sixty chairs made from renewable plastics, distilling key lessons into a practical checklist for designers and manufacturers. The book also features exclusive insights from leading designers, including Philippe Starck, Barber Osgerby, Konstantin Grcic, Bertjan Pot, and Karim Rashid, offering valuable perspectives on incorporating sustainable plastics into industrial design.

The Role of Design in Shaping a Greener Future

As industries face mounting pressure to adopt sustainable practices, design is uniquely positioned to drive change. With up to 80% of a product’s environmental impact determined during the design phase, Rethinking Plastics in Product Design underscores the responsibility of industrial designers and manufacturers in mitigating the climate crisis.

“The ideal plastic of the future will be produced using renewable energy, sourced from sustainable materials such as algae or CO₂, and strengthened with biobased pigments and additives”, says Isaac. “While these materials remain rare, viable alternatives already exist, and design must accelerate the transition toward their adoption. With much attention being directed to increasing the supply of renewable plastics design needs to take a lead in driving demand for these materials.”

With in-depth case studies, expert interviews, and actionable strategies, this book serves as an essential resource for designers, manufacturers, and sustainability advocates seeking to create a more responsible and forward-thinking future.

Source: Bioplastics MAGAZINE, 2025-03-06.