Sustainable Materials: Lifecycle, Properties, and Design

This lecture covers the lifecycle of materials, including extraction, production, and end-of-life considerations, as well as the importance of material properties and auditing products for sustainability. It also delves into industrial and environmental ecosystems, government roles, and designing products for sustainability. The instructor emphasizes the significance of material efficiency, replacement, and purposeful design, along with the integration of transferable skills like data literacy and collaboration. Through case studies like LEGO, the lecture explores how companies evaluate and improve sustainability in consumer products, focusing on materials, packaging, and end-of-life strategies.