Sustainable design

Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 16:49:46 -0300 (ADT)
From: "Donald J. Black" <dblack@chebucto.ns.ca>
To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects



The following is from an article on architect William 
McDonough in the Jan/Feb 2000 issue of "Azure", the Canadian 
magazine on design, architecture and art.

"When commissioned in 1993 to create a line of 
environmentally safe contract fabrics for Steelcase subsidiary 
DesignTex, McDonough invited sixty chemical companies to 
collaborate in devising a toxin-free product. All said no. 
Finally, the chairman of Swiss manufacturer Ciba-Geigy 
accepted.

"Together, they considered 8,000 chemicals currently used in 
the textile industry, eliminating 7,962 based on their criteria: 
if it caused cancer, birth defects or was in any way hazardous 
to human health, out it went. All elements had to be 
biodegradable and non-bioaccumulating. They assessed 
production methods; determined where the resources were 
coming from and whether thy were renewable, recyclable, 
energy-efficient and made under acceptable working 
conditions.

"The resulting product was a blend of wool 'from happy sheep 
in New Zealand' and organically grown ramie from The 
Philippines.

"Why are we designing toxic products and selling people 
hazardous materials when there are alternatives? 'Without 
being glib,' McDonough says, 'the fact of the matter is, if you 
take most of the products in this room, put them in a sealed 
glass box and put people in there, you are building a gas 
chamber.' Stern stuff. But paradoxically, McDonough isn't a 
guilt monger. 'We are not asking people to feel guilty,' he says. 
'We're saying that negligence starts tomorrow, now that you 
know.'"

See <www.mbdc.com> for McDonough & Braungart's sustainable 
industrial design program; <www.mcdonough.com> for McDonough & 
Partners architecture.

--end--


-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
The preceding message was posted on Sustainable Maritimes (sust-mar)
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

DOES SUST-MAR KNOW? Not unless you tell us ...

To submit a message about the environment/sustainability in the Maritimes,
just send it to <sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca>

Messages are prioritised and queued, so please be patient if your message
doesn't appear right away.

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects