Designing with the life cycle in mind

Natural materials have been used by societies throughout history for their ready supply and renewability. The Industrial Revolution, and subsequent technological advances throughout the twentieth century, saw the advent of mass production and the introduction of many new synthetic materials. Plastics, in particular, became a default choice of material for a huge range of applications, and interest in natural materials, such as wood, plant fibres and wool, went somewhat into decline. This has been changing more recently due to the growing emphasis on the environmental issues associated with fossil-based production; issues such as resource depletion, land use and habitat degradation, the generation and disposal of wastes, and in particular the need to mitigate climate change.