There are many different ways to talk about sustainability when it comes to the production and use of products and materials:

• The use of virgin or recycled raw materials
• Impacts on ecosystems
• Packaging and transportation
• Ease of manufacturing and installation
• Replacement of less sustainable materials
• Durability, longevity, and ease of care and maintenance
• Carbon offsets and sequestration
• Circularity and end-of-life

Many of these issues are interrelated, and most are tied directly to carbon and CO2. Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas in Earth’s atmosphere. It’s also the metric by which we assess the climate impacts of products and materials. In this CEU we’ll discuss new thinking about the true meaning of sustainability, the causes and effects of manmade climate change, and how the choices designers make have real-world impacts. We’ll also explore a category of materials – materials you’re already using – that go beyond sustainable, that are actually Climate Positive.