This should include a description of the environmental impact and reduction target, and how it is to be accomplished and measured. For example: the design brief for a packaging project may list the goal of reducing the environmental impact associated with virgin fiber by using recycled paper fiber. The design brief specifies that no less than 50% of the project’s paper be made of recycled paper, as measured by weight.

• Reduction of Material and Resource Use,
• Reduction of Energy (in sourcing, manufacturing, delivery, use, disposal, etc.),
• Material Substitution (toward materials and energy sources that have demonstrably lower impacts),
• Localization of Materials and Energy (that decrease ecological impacts), Increasing the Likelihood of Recycling

Environmental impacts refer to the potential environmental consequences of a particular action, activity and/or project. The environmental impact may be positive or negative, but the term is most often used when characterizing a negative result. Environmental impacts are often described in terms of particular categories of impact. Typical impact categories include:

-Climate Change or Global Warming Potential

-Ozone Layer Depletion

-Air Pollution

-Water Pollution

-Land Degradation

-Resource Depletion

-Acid Rain

-Eutrophication

-Species Extinction

-Solid Waste

For definitions of these terms, see: http://livingprinciples.aiga.org/resources/words-to-know/

A resource for sustainable design, hosted by AIGA.