One of the great challenges (some people might argue the greatest challenge) is to design products and use technology to limit the impact of global warming and subsequent environmental damage. Technophils argue that a “technology fix” is the answer while environmentalists argue that limiting the growth of consumerism is the solution. So, is it a question of adopting sustainable lifestyles that use less or designing products and services that do more with less? (Herring , 2006, p5)
Since the Industrial Revolution population and economic growth has resulted in greater consumption of products with the resultant impact on the environment due to resource depletion and pollution. Since 1992 global conventions have focused on managing consumerism rather than limiting it. Environmentalists maintain however, that consumption at the current rate of growth is unsustainable.
