Lesson Learning Outcomes
After completion of this lesson, learners will be able to:
Learn about various sustainable materials, including biobased, biodegradable, and recyclable materials, and their roles in a circular economy.
- Learners will be able to precise Material Terminology: The ability to accurately differentiate between bio-based, biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable plastics. Participants will be able to explain the distinct definitions, standards (e.g., ASTM, EN), and appropriate end-of-life pathways for each, avoiding common “greenwashing” misconceptions.
- Learners will be able to recognize the circular Role Definition: The capacity to articulate the specific role each material type plays within a circular economy. This includes identifying where traditional recyclables fit in closed-loop systems and where compostable materials offer a strategic advantage, such as in food-contaminated packaging, to divert organic waste from landfills.
Gain knowledge on the properties, benefits, and potential applications of new materials and substitutes, such as their environmental impact and suitability for different industries.
- Learners will obtain the ability to analyze the performance properties (e.g., mechanical strength, barrier performance, thermal stability) of a novel material and weigh them against its environmental impact. Participants will learn to assess suitability for specific industries by comparing benefits and trade-offs.
- Learners will obtain the skill to identify viable opportunities for substituting conventional plastics with sustainable alternatives. This involves matching the properties of new materials to the functional requirements of products in sectors like packaging, automotive, consumer goods, and textiles.
Explore innovative approaches to designing materials that are more sustainable, including the use of renewable feedstocks and advanced manufacturing techniques.
- Learners will obtain the ability to apply core principles of eco-design, specifically “Design for Recyclability” and “Design for Disassembly.” Participants will learn to make design choices—regarding materials, colorants, adhesives, and product architecture—that maximize a product’s potential for reuse and recycling.
- Learners will obtain the skill to connect emerging material innovations with advanced manufacturing processes. This includes understanding how using renewable feedstocks (like CO2, lignin, or agricultural byproducts) or leveraging additive manufacturing can drastically reduce waste, dematerialize products, and enable on-demand production.
Understand the economic implications and market potential of new materials and substitutes, including cost-effectiveness and scalability.
- Learners will obtain the ability to conduct a foundational cost-benefit analysis of adopting sustainable materials. This includes evaluating not just material price but also potential savings from reduced resource use, lower waste disposal fees, and alignment with market trends.
- Learners will obtain the capacity to assess the scalability of a new material by considering factors like feedstock availability, required capital investment, and manufacturing readiness. Participants will be able to identify key market drivers (e.g., regulations, ESG goals, consumer preference) and develop strategies to overcome barriers to adoption.
Learn how to integrate new materials and substitutes into existing circular economy frameworks, focusing on reducing waste and maximizing resource efficiency
- Learners will obtain the skill to design integrated systems that prevent waste and maximize resource efficiency. This includes ensuring new materials can be successfully sorted and processed within existing recycling infrastructures without causing contamination, thereby creating functional closed-loop (product-to-product) or open-loop (product-to-new-application) systems.
- Learners will obtain the ability to map the entire lifecycle for a new material and design an effective reverse logistics and collection infrastructure. This involves planning how to get the material back after use.
Readings
Presentation
Terminology
Learning Activity Assessment
Quizzes
