Design for Sustainability
Ripple Products has a focus on developing internal tools, policies, procedures and guidelines that will directly contribute to higher levels of socio-environmental performance. The following initiatives are noteworthy from a sustainability perspective and how we are strengthening our approach:
Sustainability Strategies and Guidelines
It is widely accepted that up to 70% of a product’s life cycle environmental impacts are determined at the design stage. This highlights the critical need to use design as a key tool to eliminate or minimise impacts. Design for Sustainability (DfS) is used as a ‘key’ at Ripple Products that can lock-in positive eco features (such as durability and material efficiency), and lock-out negative product features, such as toxic and hazardous substances, short lifespans.
DfS is a core objective at Ripple Products. We believe attention to environmental performance is part of how ‘good design’ should be defined and implemented. Ripple’s DfS strategies and guidelines provide generic and specific guidance in three key life cycle areas: materials selection and production; production and distribution; and end-of-life recovery and management.
A strong life-cycle approach is inherent in Ripple’s DfS strategies. At the same time, our DfS methods are dynamic and flexible and will continue to evolve and improve as new knowledge and research comes to hand.
Materials Sustainability Review Matrix
Ripple Products has developed a Materials Sustainability Review Matrix, which considers and analyses each of the materials currently used or specified by Ripple Products. The matrix is actively used to review existing materials with a view to enabling future design changes and improvements, as well as helping to identify the most environmentally preferable material(s) for new design projects/products. The first version of the Matrix is focused on various polymers commonly specified by Ripple Products to date.
The Matrix covers a range of key environmental issues such as embodied energy and carbon, recyclability, durability, existence of accessible recycling schemes or services and restricted substances (i.e. toxins and hazardous materials). Wherever possible, practicable and accessible, the Matrix has strived to adopt a life-cycle approach to the data and information included i.e. consideration of environmental impacts and issue from cradle to grave.
Ultimately, the Materials Sustainability Matrix is a design decision support tool, however it is also used to retrospectively to review existing products/materials with a view to identifying design improvements.
Sustainable Procurement Policy and Guidelines
Ripple Products recognises that numerous stakeholders can have an influence over the environmental performance of a finished product. The supply chain related to furniture is becoming an increasingly complex system with multiple manufacturers and/or suppliers, all contributing toward the one product, be it a shower-timer, bucket or other item.
The primary purpose of our Sustainability Procurement Policy and Guidelines, is to help Ripple Products identify and source environmentally preferable materials, products and services that are relevant to the markets within which Ripple is operating.
Ripple’s Sustainable Procurement Policy and Guidelines are structured to address key requirements. Ripple will continue to collaborate with WSP Environmental to review, improve and expand the Guidelines so that they become a comprehensive and robust tool for the continual ‘greening’ of Ripple Products.
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 Founder and owner, Tracy Bialek
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