A company is under pressure to reduce the environmental impact of its products while keeping prices low. Explain three tensions between these two aims. [3]

Assessment: Design & Technology: Product Design 9252 | Paper 1 Mock 01 | Technical, designing and making principles Subject: Design & Technology: Product Design - 9252

Question 1 Report

9252-p1-envchallenge-impact-vs-cost-1

A company is under pressure to reduce the environmental impact of its products while keeping prices low.

Explain three tensions between these two aims. [3]

Answer Details

This tests the conflict between reducing environmental impact and keeping the selling price low. Environmental improvements can create extra costs at design, manufacture or end-of-life.

  • Using recycled or responsibly sourced materials can cost more than the cheapest materials available, increasing the unit price. [1]
  • Designing for durability and repair usually requires more material or higher-quality components, so the product costs more to manufacture. [1]
  • Collecting returned products and processing them for recycling must be funded by the company, adding to its costs. [1]

A further valid tension is that cleaner manufacturing may need investment in new machinery before savings are made. [1] For three marks, explain three separate cost-versus-environment links, rather than just stating that both aims are important.

Read lesson note on Environmental, Social And Economic Challenge (OxfordAQA)
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