Social and ecological issues
When considering the ecological and social implications of using metal, its nature is the main concern. Metal cannot be grown and is a - there is only a certain amount within the Earth’s .
To create , the ore is mined as it contains aluminium hydroxide minerals. The bauxite is so that is produced, and the aluminium is from this through . Huge amounts of energy are used to extract aluminium and convert it into a usable material. Recycling it requires some energy to make it usable again, but nowhere near as much.
Whenever environmental impact is being reduced, ‘The 6 Rs’ can be called upon to ensure an in-depth analysis has been done. The 6 Rs can be considered by the designer, the and the customer.
The 6 Rs
The term ‘the 6 Rs’ can be applied to the design of new products or when a product is finished with, used up or no longer wanted. Here are some questions to prompt 6 Rs thinking:
- - Can the amount of metal used be reduced? Can the metal be bought locally to reduce product miles?
- - Can the metal be reused for another purpose once a product is finished with?
- - Can the metal be disposed of correctly so that it can be recycled?
- - Can the way a product is made be redesigned so that less metal is used?
- - Refusing to use metal could be a consideration; could a material that is sustainable be used instead?
- - When a product is broken, can it be repaired rather than discarded?
Ecological footprint
Metal ore is found in the Earth’s crust and the extraction and processing of the metal ore has an impact on the environment. The helps designers and industry consider how the impact from mining for metal ore can be minimised. There are 6 aspects that form the ecological footprint. These are:
- Sustainability - Ore is a finite resource, which means it is . Recycling metals can help ensure they are available for future generations.
- Extraction and erosion of landscape - As ore is found in the Earth’s crust, extraction involves clearing the land so that mining can take place. This can lead to , soil erosion and loss of habitat for wildlife.
- Processing - Ore has to be removed from rocks and other minerals, which requires a lot of energy to process.
- Transportation - Ore is usually found in remote areas that have limited or no transport links. A transport infrastructure often needs to be built to allow heavy goods vehicles to transport the ore to a processing site.
- Wastage - Processing leads to a large amount of waste material that often need to be processed again before being disposed of.
- Pollution - Extraction of the ore involves the use of heavy equipment that produces noise pollution. The heavy goods vehicles used to transport the ore release carbon dioxide and other gases into the environment.
