Alleviating GaLa’s poly-mess; archetypal eco-ethical product design outlook
Abstract
The deplorable state of the environment has lately become a major issue nationally and internationally. A
major contributor to this sorry state is polythene (plastics). Towards better understanding of this issue, this
paper cites myriad existing literature that decries the effects of polythene waste and its innumerable
effects on health, habitat and future generations. The paper further apportions currently available
methods of assimilating environmental aspects into product design and the product life cycle. On the
Kenyan situation, the paper cites the incapacity and apathy in dealing with environmental issues and
documents the growing crisis of haphazard heaps of solid waste, especially plastic waste. Using a
multiple case study approach, a study whose objective was to evaluate the design process with the aim of
investigating the level of incorporation of eco-ethical consideration in design of product designers was
carried out. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected from primary and sources and analysed.
Results revealed designer omission of eco-ethical strategies in the design process, a ruined
environmental living dispensation and apathy and ignorance of eco-aspects. Based on these findings this
paper recommends integration of eco-ethical aspects all along the product design process
Citation
Africa habita reviewSponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
School of the Arts & Design, University of Nairobi