1. Target market
1.1. Adults
1.1.1. Middle aged persons , 45 - 65 .
1.1.1.1. "A Harris Interactive poll of US Internet users' environmental activities found that mature respondents (ages 63 and older) were the most likely group to engage in energy reduction in their homes, purchase energy-efficient appliances, buy more locally grown food and break their bottled water habits. Further, in the first two of those categories, the second-most-active group was the baby boomer generation (ages 44 to 62)." - emarketer.com
1.1.1.2. Would theoretically, have the salary and therefore opportunity to incorporate sustainability and environmental awareness into their lifestyle.
1.1.1.2.1. Could be difficult with young families or families in general.
1.1.1.2.2. As single use products are more often than not, cheaper than their green alternatives, this may be difficult for single parents or those who are financially unstable, eg. have a low salary with long hours or a small pension where one must be as frugal as possible.
1.1.1.3. Would be concerned about energy use, because most people around this age will be homeowners.
1.1.2. Young Adults , 20 - 35 .
1.1.2.1. Veganism and sustainable lifestyles are 'trendy'
1.1.2.2. Millennials ( 1981 to 1996) and those older members of generation Z (1997 to 2018) are the most environmentally aware generations ever, these are the people that will run the world in the future and will expectantly be kinder towards the environment and actively make a positive impact , in contrast to many of today's world leaders, in politics, industry and the like.
1.1.2.3. Willing to pay the extra money for sustainable and/or eco friendly products.
1.2. Teenagers
1.2.1. "The majority of young people feel their generation is under pressure to solve environmental issues such as climate change and plastic pollution."- independent.co.uk
1.2.1.1. 80 percent of participants from the INDEPENDENT's survey, say they actively recycle.
1.2.2. Teenager are not children, however not quite adults, which makes pursuing a sustainable lifestyle more difficult compared to other. This may be because of the fact that they are dependent on caregivers/have no salary of their own, which generally means that the products they or their family purchase will be decided by the caregivers.
1.2.2.1. Despite this however, many (but sadly not all) young persons feel as if it is their duty to look after the environment and ensure the world does not become any more 'toxic' than it already is. So while some may not currently have the capacity to be as eco-friendly as possible, it is widely expected that in the future (when these generations become adults) this will cease to be a problem.
1.2.3. one of the most environmentally aware generations
1.2.3.1. well informed
1.2.3.2. strive for a better world
1.2.3.3. These will be the people to care for the world in years to come, so this should in theory, be a 'win win' for the earth.
1.2.3.4. Greta Thunberg
1.3. The Elderly
1.3.1. some don't believe in climate change and global warming.
1.3.2. Many will have used to buy goods from paper bags anyway and would be used to this, meaning some may still choose this option when purchasing.
1.3.3. The elderly rely predominantly upon pensions, and due to the old stamp system, many do not have an adequate income. This may make it difficult for them to live more sustainably, as it often requires more monetary investment compared to a 'normal' lifestyle.
1.3.4. Buses are a largely used form of tansport.
1.3.4.1. However, so are taxis, which are just as bad as cars (because they are cars!) pollution wise.
1.4. I am aiming my products at green consumers and people who wish to do little harm to the environment and live a fairly sustainable life.
1.4.1. What is a green consumer ?
1.4.1.1. A green consumer is described in the Cambridge Dictionary as : a customer who wants to buy things that have been produced in a way that protects the natural environment:
2. Eco-Friendly materials
2.1. recycled/recyclable materials
2.1.1. recycled/reclaimed glass
2.1.2. recycled/recyclable plastic
2.1.3. metals and alloys
2.1.3.1. stainless steel
2.2. Biodegradable plastics
2.3. stainless steel
2.4. organic materials
2.4.1. Organic Plastics
2.4.2. cotton
2.4.3. Bio plastic compostables
2.4.4. Hemp
2.4.5. cardboard and paper
2.4.6. corn starch
2.4.7. Bamboo Hardwood
2.4.8. Bamboo Fibre
3. Every day products that are eco friendly
3.1. reusable water bottles
3.1.1. Over 150 plastic bottles litter each mile of UK beaches.
3.2. electricity/water/gas meters
4. what aesthetics to eco-friendly products generally have ?
4.1. colour schemes
4.1.1. greens
4.1.1.1. lime
4.1.1.2. dark/emerald
4.1.1.3. moss
4.1.1.4. juniper
4.1.2. warm colours
4.1.2.1. reds and oranges
4.1.2.1.1. crimson
4.1.2.1.2. coral
4.1.2.1.3. dusty oranges
4.1.2.1.4. amber
4.1.2.1.5. vermillion
4.1.2.1.6. persimmon
4.1.2.2. yellows and beige
4.1.2.2.1. Like a pay as you go contact, utility meters make users more aware of their spending and usage habits, so only naturally people will be more thoughtful with their energy use. If more people use less energy, it will lessen the demand, there fore reducing production.
4.1.3. blues
4.1.3.1. indigo
4.1.3.2. navy
4.1.3.3. slate
4.1.3.4. teal
4.1.3.5. peackock
4.1.4. In short, although not always, many eco friendly products tend to have 'natural' colour schemes, ie greens, blues and reds, colours that occur naturally in nature and/or are pleasing to the eye.
4.2. 'feel'
4.3. patterns
4.3.1. fauna
4.3.1.1. bees
4.3.1.2. flamingos
4.3.2. flora
4.3.2.1. william morris
4.3.2.1.1. arts and crafts movement
4.3.2.1.2. repeating floral patterns
4.3.2.2. ferns
4.3.2.3. flowers
4.3.2.4. trees
4.3.3. asymmetrical
4.3.4. geometric
4.3.5. 'flowing'
4.4. fabrics/materials
4.4.1. breathable and soft fabrics
4.4.2. waxy
4.4.2.1. wax cloth cling film alternative
5. Key problems
5.1. global warming
5.1.1. pollution
5.1.1.1. landfills
5.2. climate change
5.2.1. rising sea levels
5.2.1.1. will collapse island/coastal nations and exterminate countless animal and plant species.
5.2.2. accelerated extinction
5.2.2.1. habitat loss
5.2.2.2. illegal poaching
5.2.2.3. black market trade
5.2.2.4. water and air pollution
5.2.2.4.1. 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million seabirds are killed by marine plastic pollution annually.
5.2.2.5. deforestation
5.2.3. violent weather patterns
5.3. resource depletion
5.3.1. deforestation
5.4. lack of action taken to tackle climate change
5.5. plastics
5.5.1. single-use/disposable plastic pollution
5.5.2. plastics in general
5.6. lack of recycling
5.6.1. governments do not want to spend such gigantic sums of money and would rather just dump rubbish in landfills.
5.6.2. ocean pollution
5.6.2.1. Over 150 plastic bottles litter each mile of UK beaches.
5.6.2.2. Studies have revealed that marine plastic pollution in 100% of marine turtles, 59% of whales, 36% of seals and 40% of seabird species examined.
5.6.2.3. Approx 5,000 items of marine plastic pollution have been found per mile of beach in the UK.
5.6.2.4. Plastics consistently make up 60 to 90% of all marine debris studied.
5.6.2.5. 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million seabirds are killed by marine plastic pollution annually.
5.6.3. most businesses are not taking steps to make recyclable or reusable products
6. processes I may use
6.1. vacuum forming
6.2. 3d printing
6.3. casting
6.4. sanding
7. sustainable cities
7.1. The top ten most sustainable cities in the word are : 1. Frankfurt 2. London 3. Copenhagen 4. Amsterdam 5. Rotterdam 6. Berlin 7. Seoul 8. Hong Kong 9. Madrid 10. Singapore .
7.1.1. What are these cities trying to do to help the environment, and what do they already have in place ?
7.1.1.1. Low emission zones of 110 square kilometers in which vehicles causing high air pollution are disallowed entry. (Frankfurt)
7.1.1.2. The five-finger plan for development promotes structured growth of the city and its establishments with an abundance of green areas to break up the urban sprawl. As well as this, they plan to create streets than can accumulate water after rain storms and parks that can store up heat and double as reservoirs by 2050 (copenhagen)
7.1.1.2.1. Copenhagen is also the bicycle Capitol of the world, in which 37% of the cities total population uses bicycles for their daily commute.
7.1.1.3. 38 percent of all trips taken on a bike. The city’s policies focus on making more buildings, new and existing, conform to sustainable design as well as decreasing carbon emissions. In response to this, the Climate and Energy Fund was started in 2013 with the aim to increase energy efficiency and invest in renewable sources. (Amsterdam)
7.1.1.4. This city has the highest water sustainability in the world, it boasts a number of green rooftops, parks and nature trails. The city is popular for its use of innovative sustainable designs. The cities Capture and Storage Demonstration Project (ROAD) aims to catch and store 1.1 million tonnes of carbon emissions from industries each year. The stored carbon dioxide can later be used by the industries through pipelines. (Rotterdam)
7.1.1.5. This cities citizens are actively involved in converting wastelands and open spaces into gardens to increase its environmental sustainability. There are several other green initiatives such as organic restaurants, eco fashion and urban biking. With a vision to become a smart city, This city has taken a holistic approach towards sustainable urban development. Besides reducing carbon emissions and achieving climate neutrality, it wants to ensure a healthy population, greater economic opportunities and stronger infrastructure. (Berlin)
7.1.1.5.1. Holistic is defined as : the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole.
7.2. what makes a city sustainable ?
7.2.1. Public transport is seen as a viable alternative to cars.
7.2.2. public transport is safe, reliable and affordable
7.2.3. Walking and cycling is safe. Areas of open space are safe, accessible and enjoyable.
7.2.4. Wherever possible, renewable resources are used instead of non-renewable resources.
7.2.5. Waste is seen as a resource and is recycled wherever possible.
7.2.6. New homes are energy efficient and there is access to affordable housing. Community links are strong and communities work together to deal with issues such as crime and security.
7.2.7. Cultural and social amenities are accessible to all.
7.2.8. Inward investment is made to the CBD.
7.2.8.1. CBD stands for Central Business District
8. Sustainable living
8.1. "Sustainable sets its sights on the future. A sustainable practice uses a small amount of resources, doesn’t require a lot of energy to create, and is biodegradable without causing pollution during the process, from creation to shipping and disposal.” - moodfabrics.com on sustainable fashion.
8.2. Sustainability is defined as : [something is sustainable when it is] able to be maintained at a certain rate or level. Furthermore , conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.
8.3. Does Eco-Friendly and sustainable living coexist ?
8.3.1. The only possible answer is yes. Though sustainable living might not always be eco-friendly, that is the ultimate goal.
8.4. How can I become more sustainable ?
9. single use products
9.1. It is now believed that there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris currently in the ocean. Of that mass, 269,000 tons float on the surface, while some four billion plastic microfibers per square kilometer litter the deep sea. Shoppers worldwide are using approximately 500 billion single-use plastic bags per year. This accumulates to approximately one million bags every minute across the globe, or 150 bags a year for each person on earth.
9.2. water bottles
9.2.1. Over 150 plastic bottles litter each mile of UK beaches.
10. alternatives to disposable products
10.1. reusable sanitary products
10.1.1. why would this make a difference ?
10.1.1.1. Around 20 billion tampons and pads are dumped in landfills each year. A conventional pad is an equivalent of approximately four 'single use' plastic bags, adding to this, there are large amounts of polyethylene in each pad, and while this is arguably one of the most environmentally friendly polymers, it takes an incredible amount of time to decompose and is made with chlorine as well as hydrocarbons, which almost doubles the environmental impact compared to if it was made of solely hydrocarbons.
10.1.2. washable pads
10.1.3. menstrual cups
10.2. reusable wax cloth rather than cling film
10.3. washable (sometimes crochet) cotton pads.
10.4. reusable water bottles
10.5. reusable shopping bags
10.5.1. use paper bags or buy loose fruit and veg rather than the alternative plastic wrapped ones.
11. products powered by nature
11.1. windmills
11.2. solar powered products
11.2.1. in the Workspace/Home
11.2.1.1. keyboard
11.2.1.2. humidifiers
11.2.1.3. CCTV
11.2.1.4. solar laptop charger
11.2.1.5. air con
11.3. water powered products
11.3.1. Hydroelectric and Wave energy
12. why will customers buy my product ?
13. Vegetarianism and Veganism
13.1. Vegaterianism
13.1.1. "the practice of not eating meat or fish, especially for moral, religious, or health reasons."
13.2. Veganism
13.2.1. It is expected that the market for vegan meat alternatives will reach a net worth of $7.5 billion globally by 2025.
13.2.2. Europe represents 39% of the global market for meat alternatives.
13.2.3. Vegan diets are linked to a 35% reduced risk of prostate cancer.
13.2.4. "the practice of eating only food not derived from animals and typically of avoiding the use of other animal products."