What aspect of product design does sustainability directly impact?

Sustainability in product design fundamentally relates to the environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle. This encompasses various stages, including sourcing raw materials, manufacturing processes, distribution, usage, and end-of-life disposal or recycling. By focusing on sustainability, designers seek to minimize resource depletion, reduce harmful emissions, and ensure that products can be recycled or reused, thereby supporting a more circular economy.

While production costs, aesthetic design principles, and marketing strategies may be influenced by sustainable practices, they are not the primary focus of sustainability. The essence of sustainable product design is to create products that are environmentally friendly, lessened their carbon footprint, and promote social responsibility, which reflects in the entire lifecycle of the product rather than isolated aspects like cost, aesthetics, or marketing.