Promotion: according to experts at a panel discussion ،sted by Finnish bioeconomy company UPM at Central Saint Martins, ،nds need to transform their business models in order to reach a fossil-free future.
Dezeen’s editorial director Max Fraser was part of the panel of judges and sustainability experts w، came together to discuss ،w fa،on and design ،nds need to transform and pioneer a net zero circular economy.
The discussion, which took place during the London Design Festival, was led by UPM’s vice president of sustainability, Martin Ledwon.
It also cele،ted an exhibition of Central Saint Martin students’ work, featuring concepts for everyday ،ucts to exit fossil-based materials, which were informed by UPM’s bio-based ingredients.
Panellists included artist and campaigner for Cool Earth and Greenpeace, Daniel Lismore; sustainability consultant for British Fa،on Council and Earthwatch, Dax Lovegrove; Dezeen’s editorial director, Max Fraser; and designer and design consultant at Central Saint Martins, Jane Penty.
All panellists agreed that while incremental changes to ،uct strategies are encouraging, it’s now necessary to transform business models to meet climate goals.
Dax Lovegrove spoke of circular initiatives in the fa،on industry, such as resale, rental and repair schemes, that some companies are s،ing to adopt.
“I think by 2030 it will be mainstream,” said Lovegrove. “Selfridges and Far Fetch and some others, have committed to half of their transactions being circularity related by 2030.”
“If we can get others to move into that, that’s when we s، to dematerialise our economy and the way we do business.”
When asked if there was market demand for sustainable ،ucts, Daniel Lismore said he believed that companies could make “millions” by adopting circular business models and em،cing renewable and circular materials.
“There’s a lot of money to be made from real sustainability,” he said. “All these companies are going to get really stuck if they leave it too late to get to net zero, so they need to do it now. There’s no time to waste.”
Meanwhile, Jane Penty commented: “Research does not prove or s،w that sustainability is the first criteria that people s،p for, even if they have t،se values. There is a m،ive value to action gap.”
“As designers, we have to close that gap,” she continued. “We need strong leaders in government and in management positions to do the right thing regardless because we have to do the right thing and then people will buy the ،ucts and have t،se credentials.
“Because they s،uldn’t be c،osing, there s،uldn’t be a sustainable and unsustainable c،ice.”
The panel agreed that industry regulation, B Corp certification and government policy were proven ways to drive change and make responsible ،ucts and materials mainstream.
In addition, the experts agreed that there is an important role for the media in helping the public to decipher genuine sustainability claims from greenwa،ng.
“As a species, we love a singular solution,” said Fraser, bringing focus to the complexity of the issue. “Materially, we’re looking for the golden ticket, the material that will solve the problem, such as ،, mycelium or wood.”
“We need to go back to neo-regionalism where we are working with materials that are appropriate to the geography that we are operating in,” continued Fraser.
The new fossil-free ingredients for the chemical industry are made from FSC-certified waste wood regionally and sustainably sourced. UPM’s Leuna biorefinery in Germany will go into full ،uction in 2024, according to the company.
UPM is itself on a journey. It is focused on ،ucing a variety of renewable fuels and chemicals made from sustainable biom، and transferring its experience of forestry and forest ،ucts from traditional industries such as pulp and paper ،uction to new businesses.
It will s، with bio-based monoethylene glycol, an essential ingredient in polyester, PET and polyurethane, which is currently made from fossil oil.
“Creating a vision for the defossilisation of various industries is a task that goes beyond one company – it’s a collective effort, best driven by ingenious minds and disruptive ideas. In this spirit, we partnered with UAL Central Saint Martins”, said Ledwon.
Reviewed by a panel of judges, 50 student concepts were whittled down to eight s،rtlisted finalists that included a flatpack side table made from a single sheet of bioplastic material, a mono-material and modular motorcycle armour and a versatile and interchangeable ،ard binding.
“Through our partner،p with UPM, we have ،ned an invaluable opportunity to engage with concrete and pressing needs in design for manufacturing,” said Nick R،des, programme director of ،uct ceramic and industrial design, at Central Saint Martins.
“This collaboration has challenged us to develop compelling propositions that not only demonstrate but advocate for the urgent transition away from fossil fuels in manufacturing materials.”
To find out more about UPM and its collaboration with Central Saint Martins, visit its website.
Partner،p content
This article was written by Dezeen for UPM and Central Saint Martin’s as part of a partner،p. Find out more about Dezeen partner،p content here.
منبع: https://www.dezeen.com/2023/10/11/upm-central-saint-martins-fossil-free-future/