Sustainability

The Six Rs in Practice

Master sustainability principles for any exam question

What the Research Says

The six Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Rethink, Refuse) appear across multiple sections of the D&T exam. Many students lose marks because they can list the six Rs but cannot apply them to a specific product or scenario. Active application practice is far more effective than passive memorisation.

Evidence Base

Study	Finding	Impact
Chi & Wylie (2014)	Constructive and interactive activities (like application practice) produce deeper learning than passive activities	High
Bransford et al. (2000)	Transfer of learning requires practice in varied contexts, not just one example	High
Schwartz & Bransford (1998)	Generating solutions before being told the answer dramatically improves understanding	Moderate

Step-by-Step Method

1
Learn the six Rs with examples — Reduce (use less material), Reuse (design for second life), Recycle (mark materials for easy separation), Repair (make parts replaceable), Rethink (redesign the whole approach), Refuse (reject harmful materials).
2
Pick a random product — Choose an everyday item (plastic bottle, smartphone, wooden chair) and apply all six Rs to it.
3
Write exam-style answers — For each R, write a sentence in the format: “The designer could [action] by [specific method] which would [environmental benefit].”
4
Link to life cycle assessment — For each product, consider which stage of the life cycle (extraction, manufacture, use, disposal) each R targets.

Example: Applying the Six Rs to a Plastic Water Bottle

Reduce: Use thinner plastic walls (less material per bottle).
Reuse: Design with a screw cap and durable body for refilling.
Recycle: Use a single polymer type (PET) so it can be easily sorted and recycled.
Repair: Less applicable here, but a replaceable cap extends the bottle’s useful life.
Rethink: Replace single-use bottles with refill stations and reusable containers.
Refuse: Refuse to use non-recyclable materials like mixed-material labels.

Common Pitfalls

Just listing the six Rs without applying them — The examiner wants you to explain HOW each R applies to the specific product in the question.
Only mentioning “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” — Students often forget Repair, Rethink, and Refuse. Practise all six.
Generic answers — “It can be recycled” is too vague. Say “The PET body can be separated from the PP cap and recycled into polyester fibre.”

When to Use This

Practice applying the six Rs to a different product every few days. By the exam, you should be able to apply all six Rs to any product within 5 minutes. This skill is worth marks across Sections A, B, and C.