In your own words describe what you understand by sustainability.

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Sarah Hurworth

Sustainability

In your own words describe what you understand what is meant by sustainability.

The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary definition of sustainability is -   ‘causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time’.

My view of sustainability when concerned with the manufacture of products is that during manufacture, the materials used are abundant, their usage is able to be replaced or replenished by environmental management such as Forestry Commission tree planting etc. Waste products are kept to a minimum and any produced are non-toxic and can be disposed of safely or recycled. Any packaging must also be produced from materials that can be replaced or replenished. In order for sustainability to be maintained, pollution from distribution must be kept to a minimum, this could be by sharing transport with other manufacturers or by using a carrier service who will make the best use of transport.  The consumer usage of the product must be considered, as the product itself may not be as environmentally friendly as it could or should be.  Disposability of the product at the end of its life is important as in order to be sustainable; it should be either recyclable or biodegradable.

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Stakeholders are various groups who are all affected by and involved in the life cycle of a product.  Sustainability is important to the manufactures because if the abundance of a material is reduced, the production of the product will be limited and therefore the profits will be affected. During the process of manufacturing waste products may be produced. Disposal of waste products must be carried out under strict government guidelines, which costs money, manufacturers would want as little waste products produced as possible to maintain their profits. Anything that would affect the sustainability for the manufacturer ...

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