Eco-design primarily addresses which three environmental categories?

Eco-design primarily focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of products through their design and lifecycle management. The three environmental categories that it addresses—materials, energy, and pollution/waste—are essential in understanding how design decisions can influence overall sustainability.

Materials refer to the selection and sourcing of resources used in production. Eco-design encourages the use of sustainable and renewable materials to reduce depletion of finite resources and enhance recyclability at the end of a product's life.

Energy is another critical category, as eco-design considers energy consumption during both the manufacturing process and the product's use phase. By promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources, designers can significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with their products.

Lastly, pollution/waste addresses the outputs generated throughout the product's lifecycle, including emissions and non-recyclable materials. Eco-design strategies aim to minimize waste and pollution through design choices that facilitate recycling and more environmentally friendly disposal methods.

This comprehensive approach enables designers to create products that not only serve their intended purposes effectively but also protect the environment for future generations.