5 key messages from Sustainability in Engineering

Engineering is playing perhaps the biggest role of any industry in global sustainability efforts. Countless new technologies, systems and approaches are decarbonising while keeping the lights on and helping society function as normal.

It is vital, therefore, that we keep up-to-date with the latest developments. Thankfully, the Sustainability in Engineering webinar series from Professional Engineering and the IMechE was held this week, with a number of sessions designed to help you do just that. 

All of the expert-led sessions are now available on-demand – just register for free here to view them at your leisure and share with colleagues.

Click the links below to read some of the key messages from five of the informative webinars.

Get design right early on to make greener parts

Getting product design right early on is key when trying to boost sustainability, said Protolabs project engineer Tasos Pantelis.

Conflicting net zero scenarios risk 'survival of the fittest' approach

Conflicting projections of how to meet ‘net zero’ by 2050 risk a “Darwinian” approach to sustainable engineering solutions, according to former IMechE president Peter Flinn.

Sustainable designs are tackling the 'environmental disaster' of single-use face masks

Radhika Srinivasan, CEO and founder of Ecotextura, aims to tackle widespread pollution with sustainable alternatives to plastic-based PPE.

Small tweaks now make a big difference later when 3D printing

When it comes to product design, even a small change can have a big impact on sustainability. Repeated hundreds or thousands of times across a production run, alterations can significantly reduce the amount of material used and total carbon emissions. Additive manufacturing can be a particularly useful tool, said Claudia Galdini, segment manager at HP.

Include the planet in your design brief

Every product, from building insulation to a single-use plastic bottle, has an environmental impact – and most of that impact is determined before it is even manufactured, according to Stephen Dyson from Protolabs, with over 80% of a product’s environmental impact determined in the design stage.