I think that the brief case assignment was a great introduction to our larger course project. It was really interesting to be able to see all of the different types of sustainable work done across industries and the issues that those companies were seeking to tackle. From candles to permaculture to recyclable benches, sustainability is certainly becoming more mainstream.
One thing in particular that really struck me throughout this project is the income bias that presents itself with sustainable products and services. Almost all of the products or services presented on in class cater to a more affluent clientele. This creates a barrier for lower income consumers, because they simply cannot buy these products. Furthermore, there can sometimes be a superiority complex to buying sustainable products, and some people may look down on those who use less sustainable products. Therefore, it is really important to create sustainable products and services that are available to all consumers. Another accessibility issue is location. Often, services geared toward sustainability (ex: Imperfect Produce, Loop) are aimed towards consumers that live in urban areas. This again, leaves a large section of the consumer base, rural buyers, out of the picture. Imperfect Produce, in particular, could be a great asset to rural areas where there are food deserts and/or food insecurities. It will be a challenge to create a product or service that jumps both of these barriers, but it is definitely worth pursuing in order to make sustainable products and services last in the long run.
One the teamwork side, this assignment gave groups a low stakes opportunity to work out some of the kinks and get to know everyone’s work habits, quirks, likes, and dislikes. This will certainly be useful moving forward with the living principles assessment and product design projects this semester.