Which term describes designing products to minimise environmental impact through material choice, energy use, manufacturing and disposal?

• A. Product life cycle
• B. Design for recycling
• C. Sustainability
• D. Non-ferrous metal

Answer: (C)

Designing to minimise environmental impact across the whole life of a product is sustainability. It covers choosing materials with lower environmental footprints, reducing energy use in production and operation, and planning for easier disposal or recycling at the end of life, all while considering long-term impacts. This broad aim contrasts with specific ideas like the product life cycle (the stages a product goes through), design for recycling (a particular strategy to aid recycling), or non-ferrous metal (a material type). So sustainability best captures the goal of minimizing environmental impact through material choice, energy use, manufacturing, and disposal.