Design For Recycling

Selection of a product

The design of the product in respect to its recyclability in nearly all cases has typically had strategic implications for the prosperity along with the success of each organization; this is because the recycled product has an impact on the future activities (Eichner & Runkel, 2000). Presently, different organizations have identified several products that can be recycled to reduce the wastage of such products. These products include; plastic, metal cans, glass bottles, papers and many others. However, in this paper, a product (paper) will be used as a good example of those products that can be recycled to reduce a lot of wastage in the society. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the recycling of papers in the society reduces the emission of poisonous gases that comes from the greenhouse as well as conserving the energy and water. The research carried out showed that paper production more often than not depend on trees primarily for pulp; therefore recycling of paper will repeatedly helps in saving valuable trees. Hence this paper will assess the design of a selected product (paper) with respect to its recyclability as well as disassembling, studying and suggesting areas for the improvement. Recycling of paper takes different steps as shown below.

Paper taken to recycling plant and then separated into grades

Paper taken from the bin

The paper is left to dry, and then it is rolled up ready to be cut and sent back to the shops.

The separated paper is then washed with soapy water to remove inks

The slurry is spread using large rollers into large thin sheets.

By adding different materials to the slurry, different paper products can be created, such as cardboard, newsprints or office paper.

Recyclability

The product is divided in different parts that includes; toilet paper, paper towels, tissues soap pads, stationery, napkins. All these products can be recycled, though this is done mainly to the scraps. Conversely; the percentage of recyclability by weight, and texture turn out not to be a good idea after all, and in countries like the United States, more than a third or recyclables were collected in 2010. For example in the worst case scenario, a study published in Environmental Science & Technology presently showed that BPA and cousin chemical BPS used in “BPA free products” has high estrogenic in nature, and are pervasive in common and hence claims that BPA products are not better and may affect the hormones of those people using it. The results in most case have turned out to be what I expected. Given that the recycled products have a great significance to most organizations, however; the products that have been recycled are usually not a hundred percent the best. The chart below shows paper recycling in the year 2009 to 2012.

Improvements:

The critical areas identified when redesigning the product to improve the material recyclability from technical and financial perspective implicated the opportunities and threats factors that gave rise to the new markets competitor to the paper product. One of the most options that improved the product recyclability was the cost or availability, for example, availability of sufficient raw material to be recycled, the components and the labor. The legal factors on the other hand also played a great role in redesigning of the product given that, new rules regarding the government changes, the safety issues were all in place (Sarah, 2012).

What I have learnt

From this paper, I have learnt that, even though there are some problems associated with the recycled products, recycling of products is still the best way for the organizations to have a positive impact on the world that they live. Therefore, recycling is significant to both the natural environment as well as the people living around it (Harper, 2001).

References

Eichner, T., & Runkel, M. (2000). Efficient and sustainable management of product durability and recyclability. London: Univ., Fachbereich Wirtschaftswiss..

Harper, C. A. (2001). Handbook of materials for product design (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Sarah, S. (2012). Recycled Toilet Paper Not Such a Great Idea After All. The Healthy Home Economist Retrieved February 3, 2013, from http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/recycled-toilet-paper-not-such-a-great-idea-after