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Engineering is a marvel of all times. Environment and ecology are essential for our existence. Between 1966 and 1970, concerned Earth citizens first considered using engineering to save the environment and ecology. At the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development meeting, under the guiding name ‘The Ten Ecological Commandments for Earth Citizens’, the concept of ‘green engineering’ first emerged. Paul Anastas and his beloved Julie Zimmerman first described the principles of green engineering on May 19, 2003. 

Green engineering is a novel concept focusing on the product’s life cycle with minimal pollution while maximising sustainability, economic, and health outcomes. We can all fight the menace of environmental problems by understanding and implementing the 12 principles of green engineering, such as waste reduction, material management,

product improvement and pollution hindrances (significant pillars of green engineering).

Inherent Rather Than Circumstantial

Prioritise inherently safe materials and processes, minimising the need for external controls to manage hazards.

Prevention Instead of Treatment

Focus on preventing pollution at its source by eliminating or minimising waste generation in the first place rather than focusing on treatment of waste.

Design for Separation

Design products and processes for easy separation of materials at the end of their lifespan, facilitating recycling and reuse while minimising energy and material utilisation for separation and purification processes.

Maximize Efficiency

Strive for efficient systems, processes, and products that achieve desired outcomes using minimal resources (mass, time, energy, and space). This reduces waste, increases productivity, and conserves resources.

Output-Pulled Versus Input-Pushed

Design systems driven by the desired output, pulling through only the necessary materials and energy to achieve the function, rather than forcing excessive inputs.

Conserve Complexity

Simplicity is key. While some complexity might be needed for reusability, overly complex designs can hinder disassembly and recycling.

Durability Rather Than Immortality

Design for a long and useful life, but avoid unnecessary over-engineering. Products should be durable enough to fulfill their purpose without excessive lifespan. Remember plastics that will only biodegrade after a 1000 years?

Meet Need, Minimise Excess

Design products and processes that meet a specific need but avoid unnecessary features or functionalities that create excess waste.

Minimise Material Diversity

Use fewer types of materials in a product to simplify disassembly, recycling, and disposal processes.

Integrate Material and Energy Flows

Design systems that integrate material and energy flows to minimise waste and maximise resource use.

Design for Commercial Afterlife

Consider a product’s ‘second life’ by designing for disassembly or ease of use in new applications after its initial purpose is served.

Renewable Rather Than Depleting

Whenever possible, use renewable resources and design systems that minimise the use of finite resources.

Conclusion

We must know that sustainability rests in the multifunctionality of products and services. For instance, engineered green roofs provide many ecosystem services, from lowering the temperature of modern cities to decreasing energy consumption in cement skyscrapers. It is an invention related to green engineering principles, reminding us to design products that keep our planet in good health through green engineering.

References

1. Cook, L. M., & Larsen, T. A. (2021). Towards a performance-based approach for multifunctional green roofs: An interdisciplinary review. Building and Environment, 188, 107489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107489
2. Green Engineering | US EPA. (2024, March 12). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/green-engineering#:~:text=Green%20engineering%20is%20the%20design,sacrificing%20economic%20viability%20and%20efficiency.
3. Principles of Green Engineering | Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering at Yale. (n.d.). https://greenchemistry.yale.edu/about/principles-green-engineering
4. Wikipedia contributors. (2024b, March 22). Green engineering. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_engineering

Credits

The article is authored by Sonali Sharma, a writer and researcher with a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Panjab University, Chandigarh. As a writer she has written for Down To Earth and green businesses; as a researcher she works on rural food security. 

The article is conceptualised and edited by Deepa Sai