More than 4,000 practicing engineers and engineering students recently voiced their views on the subject of sustainable engineering in the second annual Sustainable Design Trend Watch Survey, sponsored by Autodesk and ASME.

The comprehensive two-part survey sought to gauge ASME members’ thoughts on sustainable technology and the concept of sustainability in general. In addition to a number of multiple-choice questions on the subject of sustainability, the survey also asked respondents to write their comments on the issue.

Listed below are some of the remarks concerning sustainable processes in manufacturing that were submitted by the engineers and students who took part in the survey. To read more about the results of the Sustainable Design Trend Watch Survey, read “Compelled to be Green,” in this month’s issue of Mechanical Engineering magazine.

We have grouped the comments by theme. There are those who believe sustainability is a critical issue and others who consider it a buzzword. Still others say it will cost too much. Many find it a good idea, but have serious reservations about it. Other respondents question the many definitions of the term.

Sustainability is Critical to the Future of Manufacturing:

“Use of recycled and recyclable components is an important step moving forward. The volume of raw materials used in manufacturing is often seen only as a business concern, while byproducts of manufacturing are seen as an environmental concern. Waste in raw materials should also be seen as an environmental concern.”

“Sustainable processes in manufacturing are critical to the overall impact of manufacturing. As we enter a new era, it is imperative that America lead the world in manufacturing best practices and show the example of green/sustainable processes in manufacturing. This is especially true [considering] what is happening in China.”

“Engineers owe sustainable processes to society. The earth is crowded. Just go to China and see what happens when you neglect the environment.”

“First, as a company there has to be an understanding that all processes have to be sustainable. Second, develop an acceptable policy that is visible to your clients/customers with continued demonstration. Third, incorporate the use of ‘lean-Six-Sigma’ to streamline your processes, develop meaningful procedures that are flexible to change, and allow the company to sustain process flow as a result.”

“This will be one of the ways we can recover our manufacturing base in the U.S. By manufacturing smarter, and having public opinion on our side, we can draw our lost base back in to the U.S.”

“There are few things that I think the government should mandate and fund (through tax incentives). Sustainability is one. I think most companies will not adopt sustainability practices without incentives, and the only incentive a company will respond to is money or law. The federal government has invested in our country’s banking and financial system, but has not invested in our manufacturing sector. Furthermore, so much of U.S. manufacturing has gone offshore and has eroded, who knows if the U.S. will ever return to the manufacturing powerhouse that it was.”

“I come from heavy industry and many of the sustainable processes have been pursued and achieved over 40 years, before it was fashionable. These achievements have been driven by economics (power, energy, and labor costs), have real metrics, and laid the ground for others to follow. International companies have carried these achievements to developing nations.”

“Sustainability should be a normal manufacturing consideration.”

“We should be moving towards sustainable processes in manufacturing. It will take time to develop the momentum for the change. We need continuous, long-term effort, not quick bursts of interest.”

“It does not take too much effort to save on utilities, materials, waste, and energy. Just open your eyes and look around you.”

“Especially in this time of depressed markets, putting additional resources into a product that the U.S. is competing with on a global basis can make the difference between staying in business or going out of business. Sustainability has to be a long-term focus with doing the things that make sense now and planning for new or improved products in the near future.”

“I believe that is very important to consider not only energy efficiency in manufacturing, but more importantly, resource management. Minimization of waste in materials, water, and energy should be a key goal. Also, creative use of packaging, and reduction of waste outside in the supply chain need to be considered as well.”

“The primary reason for being interested in the topic should be because of the old adage, ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself.’ If sustainability in manufacturing helps others and helps those involved in the manufacturing enterprise, as well as being economically sustainable or even advantageous, then it should be a no-brainer that these practices should be adopted.”

“Most companies with integrity and a corporate vision will endeavor to meet and exceed all environmental regulations. They will invest in technology to reduce energy consumption where the return on investment is significant. Recycling will become commonplace. Using recycled materials in the process or manufacturing will only occur if economically viable. Foreign competition will limit opportunities to some degree. The capital cost for sustainable systems, processes, and products must reap reasonable financial returns.”

“We should respect natural resources, and only use them in the most sustainable fashion possible by the available technology.”

“First, do no harm. Do not overdesign. Use recycled materials where possible.”

“I fervently disagree with the concept that man’s use of fossil fuels is causing any significant climate change. However, the available energy resources on this planet are finite, while the global demand is ever increasing. As good stewards, we need to make wise use of the available resources, not wasting them thoughtlessly.”

“Sustainable process in manufacturing should be implemented without any further delay (wherever applicable). Additional investment related to this should be financed with government support. Top executive salaries should be limited to only six times the minimum salary of the employee of the organization, and under any circumstances this should not be more than 25 percent of the U.S. president’s salary. That cost savings should be utilized to implement sustainable process.”

“Engineers don't need an incentive or a cute marketing program to find ways to reduce energy or find ways to innovate. Any engineer worth a damn will do it out of curiosity and a creative desire to rise to the challenge of improving something that already exists.”

“The process should always take into consideration the environmental impacts and nonrenewable resources that take to complete the entire process.”

“I am all for it, but for reasons other than climate change. One, it will reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources. And two, it is better for our environment.”

“We need to change the way we view material possessions so that there is no need to continually have the latest gadget. Cell phones going obsolete every six months will never be a sustainable process.”

“If people would think long term, we have no choice but to adopt sustainable practices. Non-sustainable practices, by definition, cannot be sustained and will be replaced by sustainable ones. Companies on the forefront of this movement will reap the benefits.”

“Manufacturing processes are probably the most significant source for increasing sustainability. Reducing energy usage and waste impacts the environment immediately. Green products that require more energy to produce and result in more waste actually have a negative impact on sustainability.”

“As in other areas of life moderation is a virtue. It is to the benefit of the individual, the nation, and the world to incorporate moderation in the design of manufacturing facilities. Reduce energy usage and reduce waste products to the greatest extent economically feasible to remain competitive on the global stage.”

“Sustainability is a no-brainer if the true and complete lifecycle costs are considered. The design and manufacturing process must be approached as a unified activity.”

“Ignoring sustainable processes is ignoring the long term for the short term.”

“Endeavoring to be sustainable in what we do every day is a wonderful thing. We have come a long way from the 1960s when we set the surface of rivers ablaze as a result of the waste we dumped there. We, as individuals and as a nation, should use our resources as efficiently as possible and minimize our negative impact for the sake of our descendants. What we do on a daily basis impacts positively or negatively this world in which we live.”

“I think sustainability will become more commonplace as the cost of implementing sustainable processes decreases with added experience over time. This will likely drive companies that would otherwise not consider sustainable processes to consider them in the future.”

“Not only is it important for products to be low energy and sustainable, but it is also important for the manufacturing process. Is it worth putting in the extra work to make the product more sustainable if the manufacturing process requires the use of more energy and resources?”

“Sustainable process is a necessary goal in manufacturing, and more than a goal it should be an area of perpetual improvement. It will almost always be possible to reduce waste and/or pollution involved in any process, to the long run benefit of all.”

“If I knew the extent of lack of sustainability in most manufacturing I would probably never purchase something again. At present the public horrifically misconstrues that a new vehicle with 3 mpg better fuel efficiency is better for the environment, completely missing the manufacturing impacts. It is the ethical obligation of industry to say the impacts of their process, particularly if (as is likely always the case) they are not sustainable.”

“Sustainable process in manufacturing is undervalued in that cost is considered a much more important design feature, but sustainability is a long term goal with better pay-offs. It takes an unselfish view to look ahead to things that won't affect you, but this is important for the future of humankind.”

“I think that sustainable processes in manufacturing are vital to protecting our Earth’s natural resources. Almost every product in the world requires manufacturing that often uses energy intensive processes and may generate large amounts of waste. It is important to make these processes more sustainable.”

“Sustainable processes in manufacturing are critical, especially as we face the issues of global climate change. With products being manufactured which reduces the amount of environmental damage as well as consumer hazards, the process of sustainability should be a forefront when manufacturing current and future innovations.”

“We should work to always improve our use of resources because it is just good engineering, and not because Armageddon will happen if we don’t. Second, we must always be aware that there is no one-size-fits-all best solution. We as engineers learn this in our first few days of intro to engineering. For every new quote-unquote better thing, we must also understand there are consequences that will result. So in development we must take our time to fully develop the right solution for the situation and not just any solution.”

“While reducing waste is critical, we cannot forget that the electricity is also being generated by inefficient, carbon pumping machines as well. Sustainability is important on all fronts.”

“I believe sustainable processes are necessary and beneficial. However, government direction of such efforts is a waste of money, and actually stifles innovation.”

“Even though being ‘green’ is trendy and sometimes more expensive, the long term benefits far outweigh the costs, whether you believe that global warming is an issue or not. Despite the fact that going ‘green’ has much more upfront costs, it leads to a more efficient process that will pay off in the long run by being more efficient and producing less waste.”

“Manufacturing is a key area where energy and material can be conserved by making processes and products more sustainable. Lower energy and material costs for the manufacturer lead to increased sales through cost savings to the customer, and therefore all-around economic success. It should be self-evident that it is beneficial to the entire system to use sustainable processes that reduce the amount of material and energy required to make a product.”

“As a student, I have come to realize that this is the most important issue of our time. We as the parts of the human organism must realize that we need to learn to sustain and/or improve our lives in a way that does not influence the balance our planet has reached without us. So the issue of sustainability is forefront in my mind and the primary reason I use mass transit as much as possible. This is also the reason I just don’t want to just build another race car for my senior project. How does this help us as a people?”

“Isn’t it in the ASME Code of Ethics that the engineer should always be seeking to create sustainable processes? I think it’s important for us to take responsibility to make manufacturing processes sustainable so that future generations will not have to solve waste problems that we created.”

Sustainability – Just a Buzzword:

“For now it is just a buzzword used for p.r. by most organizations. Until we begin to approach sustainability as a cradle-to-grave process, I am afraid sustainability will make way for the next ‘in’ thing in manufacturing.”

“A waste of time and money. It is a good way to ruin a company.”

“ASME and ASME magazines should get out of the political lobbying business and focus on genuine technical issues. The recent tilt toward appeasing Washington politicians is sickening, especially in the bogus field of ‘global warming’ or ‘climate change’! Fundamentally, when you do so, you are kowtowing to the very people that would destroy Western technology and economies.”

“Like Al Gore's global warming hoax—a bunch of bunk.”

“Other than cost of production, the hype about ‘green’ is scientifically unfounded.”

“I think sustainability is just the current p.r. nonsense. We have always strived to be efficient in use of resources, recycling, etc.”

“Most of this ‘topic’ is based upon bogus science.”

“This is a fairly low priority — a sub issue that ASME shouldn’t waste much time on.”

“This wasn’t a concern 15 years ago.”

“This entire topic is driven too much by the ‘green’ political agenda rather than by common sense and true science.”

“There are many more important issues to consider other than sustainability.”

“Drop the term and change sustainable to ‘value engineering’ or ‘lifecycle engineering’ as it was called 30 years ago. There are too many misconceptions.”

“It is a buzzword. Businesses who claim to be ‘green’ often say this because of the political climate, which has become horrible for doing business and providing jobs for people. Despite what liberals and the media think, businesses have basically always been about efficiency and low-energy use. Good business practice requires this! Pollution standards are another issue. Those have been very helpful. But the farce of calling CO₂ a pollutant is where the joke is. ‘Carbon footprint?’ Ha ha.”

“This sounds very much like the ‘cause-of-the-month’.”

“Just another line of liberal BS extending all the way back to Prohibition.”

“Can any process be sustainable? Any process utilizes energy, so isn’t sustainability just a shell-game feel-good exercise that few are exploiting for their personnel monetary advantage?”

“We design and manufacture products to use as little materials and energy as possible because of the market. Better, faster, and cheaper. ‘Sustainability’ is a current buzzword for more government regulation and interference.”

“The word ‘sustainable’ has been overused to the point that it is meaningless. To my knowledge there is no measure of sustainability that has any traction or usefulness in manufacturing. It has just become an advertising game. It is not possible to know what level of usage or any raw material, energy source, or service is ‘sustainable’ long-term. Technology continues to develop at an ever accelerating pace in spite of useless terms and phrases such as “green,” “environmentally friendly,” and “sustainable.” Agriculture and mining/manufacturing have sustained us for centuries and will continue to do so, unless external forces like government regulation, war, and economic collapse stop them.”

“The idea that we have a limited amount of energy is completely stupid, and the whole ‘we’re killing the Earth’ thing is equally stupid. The Earth is incredibly adaptable. We couldn’t destroy it if we tried. The only thing we do is make the air taste a little weird. Not a big deal.”

It’ll Cost Too Much to Implement:

“Forcing too much sustainability into manufacturing only causes these manufacturers to go overseas. Brilliant!”

“I think that corporations are in the business of making money. They will go sustainable only if they believe it will help them make money, or if the government forces them to go sustainable. I don't think that they can make money on them, so I think that government requirements are required.”

“Any new or sustainable process will always be measured by its return on investment. Processes have to be bankable.”

“First level the playing field to offshore competition.”

“Executives are unwilling to redirect limited cash to sustainable practice because it has negative short-term impact.”

“Sustainable practices are necessary and should be embraced by companies. This won't happen if other countries do not have to follow the rules. Sales go to the lowest producer.”

“Difficult in light of the economic model in which we operate.”

“As engineers we have a responsibility to use energy efficiently, to create designs that are functional and reliable, and to earn our employers a reasonable profit. However, the push by government and environmental partisans to impose uneconomic practices onto American industry will have the long-term impact of wealth destruction and a lower standard of living for Americans.”

“If it doesn’t save money for my company, it likely does not help the environment. The ‘green’ movement is BS. The cost of a product or service is a perfect indicator of the amount of human involvement in the production process. If it costs more, it probably is detrimental to the environment.”

“[Sustainable manufacturing] can be expensive and customers do NOT want to pay more.”

“What most people consider ‘sustainable’ may not even make sense if one looks at the complete lifecycle of all materials in the projects, life of the product, cost of the product, etc. Many of the ‘sustainable’ products have shorter life times, potential for higher maintenance. Good, hard-headed design with an eye to energy use and to the available ‘raw’ or ‘processed’ materials available and the ‘sustainability’ of those materials is an awesome task because most of the data is not available.”

“It’s mostly hype. We need to be good stewards of our resources, but sometimes the ‘green’ process costs more with little benefit other than a warm fuzzy feeling.”

“It will drive up the cost of manufacturing unless it is required worldwide. The U.S. has lost most of its manufacturing to China where they have no EPA or pollution requirements. We can’t compete with those economies that don’t add cost due to regulation. We may be cleaner, but overall worldwide there is little change.”

“Sustainability is the new fad, a product of the ‘greenies’ and ‘enviros.’ As engineers we're more logical and practical. You can have the most sustainable process on the planet and sit idle if your sustainable process is not competitive. Simply stated, the No. 1 sustainable attribute should be economic sustainability. Then we'll layer on the ‘green’/’enviro’ stuff as features.”

“More than 85 percent of our manufacturing base has left U.S. shores. [Sustainability] is not a first order concern.”

“No matter what there has to be good ROI and process changes typically are very expensive. Thus, significant innovation is required to ensure reasonable payback. Not many currently have the skills or foresight (or time) to discover these vast opportunities.”

“Industry will only be interested in sustainable processes if they are profitable or mandated by government.”

“Engineering is all about efficiency. When sustainable processes are shown to be more efficient uses of money, materials and energy, then most companies will naturally move in that direction. When it is forced on us, most companies will do only what is demanded by legislation or the market.”

“More manufacturers should adopt these practices for their own good, but the cost of doing so is usually prohibitive in a cost-driven market.”

“If sustainability does not make economic sense in the short term, it can not be pursued. Business can not take short-term sacrifice and survive.”

“Reducing our carbon footprint and energy usage is actually very important to our company, but we still need to remain competitive with other companies. If we adopt a reduction in product performance relative to our competition, we most likely will lose market share and thus need to find other ways to remain competitive.”

“Sustainability must be market-driven to be practical. Factors such as cost of energy, more onerous regulations or client demands are drivers. If it is not profit-driven or not government-subsidized, then it is not likely to happen. The profit-driven method is preferred over the other because government involvement necessarily leads to profit erosion and bureaucratic inefficiencies.”

 “Sustainable process manufacturing looks great on paper and appeals to the politicians, but in the end is usually driven by money. The key is to make sustainable designs that also cost less which will therefore be actually implemented. The cost of sustainability is often higher than the rewards, and this line has to be evaluated for each situation.”

It’s a Nice Idea, But … :

“The issue is the use of limited resources for an ever-growing population. We are the problem. Pogo: ‘We have met the enemy and he is us.’ Personally, I don't think we'll win, but we have to try. I'm a fan of truly virulent pandemics.”

“Many companies probably don’t see the immediate impacts of their decision to go green, and so decide not to do it. The fact is that over time they can actually save money on building their products. What they also fail to realize, and what most people leave out of the conversation, is that going green today is seen as helping your community, neighbors, and planet. In other words, it is a great image booster and advertising gem. I think that if people want to sell green technology to these manufacturing companies, then they're going to have to start throwing something like that into their sales pitch.”

“I agree the engineering profession has an ethical responsibility towards thoughtful design including sustainable processes in manufacturing where possible and within reasonable cost constraints.”

 “What matters most is lifecycle design. It doesn’t help much to produce a ‘brown’ product in a ‘green’ plant.”

“Sustainable processes in manufacturing should be a company decision. Many of the changes required cost a lot of money to make, and I don’t think that a company should be forced into becoming ‘sustainable’ if they do not feel that they should or are even able to.”

 “We need to worry more about the Chinese dominance than sustainable processes.”

 “The industry will do (or not do, as the case may be) what it legally can get away with, to compete as effectively as possible against those with more lax regulation and lower labor costs. It is the government’s job to create taxes and incentives to level the playing field between environmentally responsible businesses and environmental scofflaws. A purely free market simply encourages a race to the bottom; it’s ‘the problem of the commons’ all over again.”

“I have seen many cases where the cost of sustainable processing caused the loss of sales to international competitors not concerned about sustainability. The use of sustainable manufacturing methods must improve competiveness in the international marketplace or it will not be sustainable.”

“[The concept is] generally good but we must consider the entire process. Too many times one part can be very green and sustainable but doing so creates less desirable outcomes in other parts of the process.”

“A worthy goal that is hampered by low-margin offshore manufacturing.”

“Sustainability needs to be a global initiative, since environmental effects are global and competitiveness has to consider a global marketplace.”

“As with many new ideas, when all is said and done there is more said than done. Sustainability is not a ‘technique’ as most management likes to think and decide, but a painstakingly slow process that will not show up in the bottom line for a generation.”

“Sustainability in manufacturing is only one component of product sustainability. We consider complete lifecycle sustainability, including the effect of the use of the product in customers’ operations.”

“I believe that in order to be truly sustainable, manufacturing must move away from the production of expendable commodities and strive to make to make products fully reusable or fully recyclable. If manufacturing processes used their expended products as material inputs for new products, it would significantly reduce consumption of natural resources.”

“I sometimes question whether the green movement is really pure or if some manufacturers are only participating in it because it is the ‘hip’ thing these days. Joining the green movement now means more money, not just saving the world. Though, perhaps, that doesn't matter, as long as everything works out.”

“Businesses will always choose the process that yields the highest sustainable return. If a process inadvertently is sustainable it will be bragged about and published, but that is just a happy coincidence.”

“Sustainable processes in manufacturing have their good side, and the general thought process behind their implementation is good, but often the technologies that end up being used the most are more detrimental than helpful, most notably to the economy. A prime example is the interaction between the power generation and the pump industries. For years, the power generation industry generated huge revenues for the pump industry because of the huge demand for reliable pumping machinery. Now, with the ‘new’ technologies of wind and photovoltaic solar power, which use few to no pumps in their electrical generation processes, the demand for pumps has dropped dramatically, and the pump industry is suffering.”

“Is it practical? Yes. Will there be hurdles to overcome? Yes. Will the administration stick with it after the fad of sustainable manufacturing is over? Possibly, but doubtful.”

“Technology is a hard drug to give up. Many modern advances are only possible through intensive processes. Are we ready to give up some current tech?”

Differing Definitions of ‘Sustainability’:

“This is an interesting case of different definitions. This survey is focused on ‘sustainability’ in terms of environmental issues. I work in the DoD, which uses the term ‘sustainment’ for the management of a system or item after it has been manufactured and delivered/fielded. This includes the repair, servicing, replacement parts, transportation, people, engineering, etc to keep using something for a long time. The term ‘sustainability’ addresses the ability to keep doing all these things. There is also ‘sustaining engineering’ to correct the problems that develop over time such as wear, fatigue, lost performance, etc. The issues addressed in the survey are the types of requirements and concerns that must be addressed while doing sustainment of our systems/equipment. Note: the definitions I’ve used are generalized and not official.”

“I disagree with the way the term ‘sustainable process’ is being used. Processes that aren't sustainable will naturally cease to exist as has been the case numerous times throughout history. The owners of these processes didn’t need outside entities pointing out to them the obvious inevitable truth. Any decisions to implement ‘sustainable processes’ by manufactures should be market driven versus government mandated. While there are some manufactures of some products that emit excessive toxic substances (either as a result of the manufacturing processes or the product itself), on the whole our environment is cleaner now than it has been for over 100 years and getting cleaner. We do not need even more government environmental initiatives and/or regulations. The regulations we have now will address the current environmental abusers if applied.”

“ ‘Sustainable’ can mean so many different things that it is open to exploitation. So much [that is labeled] ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ is based on bad science that we risk a backlash. Two examples: backyard wind power (impractical because of wind energy density, safety, and human issues), and ethanol as fuel (1994 government-sponsored study used high heat value, and full byproduct use for supplanting current ag. products to conclude that it is feasible—wrong result by using wrong input and analysis). Another possible example: plug-in electric (infrastructure not in place, energy storage not in place, non-carbon sources not in place). Too many to list. We have been through this before (Remember the mid- to late-seventies?). Net result was negative in terms of environmental impacts.”

“In concept, I agree with using sustainable practices. As currently applied, I have seen little evidence it is anything more than a marketing gimmick tied to increased costs on ineffective solutions. Sustainability in a given manufacturing process will only be viable once it is cost effective, energy effective, and material-supply effective without government incentives and fees to drive implementation.”

Sustainable products are bordering on the ‘fad technology’ line. Many products coming out are claiming ‘sustainable,’ ‘green,’ or ‘renewable,’ but there is no litmus test for these claims. The average consumer does not know that the bamboo flooring they just purchased just because of the ‘green’ or ‘renewable’ label actually cost four times more than a regular floor, and used 10 times as much fuel to harvest and transport than the composite floor made locally. The point is that these claims need to be verified by a third party, just like food products are.”

“First, you need a definition of ‘sustainable.’ Is that ‘neutral to the environment,’ or simply achievable with projected natural resources? Sustainable will at some point mean a moving target of ‘as low as achievable.’
“At this time, sustainable has too broad a definition and is subject to ‘gaming’ in the marketplace. Sound practices have to be used for all designs and total concept cost which includes resources required to develop, manufacture, operate and dispose at end of life should be the primary considerations.”

“This depends on your definition of ‘sustainable.’ We are in the business of building equipment for the oil industry. If we make it possible to get more oil or gas out of a given well, is that ‘sustainability’? I think so. Using economical processes is most important to us.”

“First of all, most of the technologies/processes in question are NOT ‘sustainable.’ They’re only ‘less destructive.’ The people won’t understand what really needs to happen if we keep using this buzzed-up, misleading, fallacious language. We need to make a COMPLETE switch to renewable energies—solar, wind, and some types of hydro (dams are not a solution)—without exception, lest our children and their children be faced with most dire circumstances.”

“A good definition of ‘sustainable xxx’ needs to be given since it does not have a universal definition. That said, sustainable manufacturing processes are sometimes cheaper, sometimes more expensive. It depends. A strong contributor to the cost analysis is government and/or regulatory policies that help incentivize sustainable behavior. As more industries implement sustainable policies, the technologies become less expensive and in fact can reach a point where they are the best alternative from a cost perspective.”

“ ‘Sustainable’ is generally too vague and poorly defined to write a spec around and build. Technically, wood residential windows are sustainable, provided a skill base of experienced carpenters exist to service and maintain them. They are gone, displaced by cheap Mexican installation of throwaway windows. So I guess wood windows are no longer sustainable, since customers have chosen to discard and not maintain them.”

“ ‘Topic of sustainable process in manufacturing’? Such a loosely worded, grammatically vague sentence makes it nearly impossible to respond. My comments? Sustainability will not be widely incorporated into manufacturing processes unless there is a cost impact for not incorporating. Consumers continue to buy the cheapest, point-of-purchase products. (See success of Wal-Mart for selling disposable cheap products.) The costs for impacting societal resources (the air, landfills, etc.) must be incorporated into the cost of a product to effect significant change on buying trends, which will change manufacturing emphasis.”

“I believe we need to define ‘sustainable’ in terms that everyone can understand, so we are actually talking about the same thing. In my understanding of the term, it means an attitude and way of doing things that will, in the long term, maintain the health of our planet while still providing an adequate living or ‘lifestyle’ for those who inhabit it. It should be possible to do both. I don't think the topic of sustainability is that important to many people yet, but no doubt it will become more so in the future, if nothing else, by necessity.”

Results from the Survey for Practicing Engineers: