you're buying some groceries,

在買一些日常用品，

and you get given the option

你有兩個選擇：

for a plastic or a paper shopping bag.

用塑膠購物袋或紙購物袋，

Which one do you choose if you want to do

如果不想破壞環境的話，

the right thing by the environment?

你會選擇哪一個？

Most people do pick the paper.

多數人選擇的是紙質購物袋。

Okay, let's think of why.

好吧，讓我們想想爲什麽。

It's brown to start with.

首先，紙是棕色的，

Therefore, it must be good for the environment.

因此，它一定是有助於環保的，

It's biodegradable. It's reusable.

它可以生物降解，可多次使用，

In some cases, it's recyclable.

有些還可以被再循環利用，

So when people are looking at the plastic bag,

所以當人們看著塑膠袋，

it's likely they're thinking of something like this,

可能聯想到的是這些畫面。

which we all know is absolutely terrible,

我們都知道這相當可怕，

and we should be avoiding at all expenses

我們理應盡力避免

these kinds of environmental damages.

這些有損於環境的行為，

But people are often not thinking

但是人們很少考慮到

of something like this,

這種情形，

which is the other end of the spectrum.

即另一個極端現象：

When we produce materials,

當我們生產材料時，

we need to extract them from the environment,

需要從環境中獲取原材料，

and we need a whole bunch of environmental impacts.

這會對環境造成一連串的影響。

You see, what happens is, when we need

你看，就是這樣，當人們需要

to make complex choices,

做出複雜的選擇時，

us humans like really simple solutions,

我們喜歡很簡單的解決方案，

and so we often ask for simple solutions.

人們因此而尋求簡單的方案。

And I work in design.

我的工作是設計。

I advise designers

我建議設計師

and innovators around sustainability,

和發明家著眼於材料的永續性。

and everyone always says to me, "Oh Leyla,

每個人總是對我說：「萊拉，

I just want the eco-materials."

我只是想要生物材料。 」

And I say, "Well, that's very complex,

我說：「這很難解釋，

and we'll have to spend four hours talking about

得花上4個小時來解釋

what exactly an eco-material means,

生物材料的確切含義。

because everything at some point

因為從某方面來說，

comes from nature,

一切都來自與自然界。

and it's how you use the material

是人們使用材料的方式

that dictates the environmental impact.

支配和影響著環境。

So what happens is, we have to rely

實情是，我們不得不依賴

on some sort of intuitive framework

幾分直覺架構

when we make decisions.

去做決定。

So I like to call that intuitive framework

所以我喜歡將這些直覺架構稱為

our environmental folklore.

「環境的信仰」。

It's either the little voice at the back of your head,

它或是人們腦中的小小的意見，

or it's that gut feeling you get

或是人的一種直覺，

when you've done the right thing,

一種做了件正確的事的直覺。

so when you've picked the paper bag

比如你選擇了紙質購物袋，

or when you've bought a fuel-efficient car.

或者你買了一輛節能汽車。

And environmental folklore is a really important thing

環境的信仰真的很重要，

because we're trying to do the right thing.

因為我們時刻試著去做正確的事。

But how do we know if we're actually

但是如果我們真的

reducing the net environmental impacts

減少了對環境的淨影響力，

that our actions as individuals and as professionals

作為個體，作為專業人士，作為一個社會整體，

and as a society are actually having

我們要怎樣才能知道，我們的行為

on the natural environment?

確實影響了自然環境？

So the thing about environmental folklore is

環境的信仰

it tends to be based on our experiences,

是建立在我們的經驗之上，

the things we've heard from other people.

是我們從別人那聽來的，

It doesn't tend to be based on any scientific framework.

而不是基於任何科學框架。

And this is really hard, because we live

這一點真的很難，因為我們生活在

in incredibly complex systems.

異常複雜的多系統內。

We have the human systems

人與人有相互交流，

of how we communicate and interrelate

和聯繫的人類系統，

and have our whole constructed society,

還有有人類構建的整個社會系統，

We have the industrial systems, which is essentially the entire economy,

我們有工業系統， 本質上相當於整個經濟體系，

and then all of that has to operate

這些都在一個

within the biggest system,

最大的系統內運行。

and, I would argue, the most important,

我認為最重要的系統

the ecosystem.

就是生態系統。

And you see, the choices that we make

我們作為一個個體

as an individual,

做出選擇，

but the choices that we make

我們在每一份工作中

in every single job that we have,

做出選擇，

no matter how high or low you are in the pecking order,

無論你所在的社會等級是高還是低，

has an impact on all of these systems.

（這些選擇）都會對所有的這些系統造成影響。

And the thing is that we have to find ways

關鍵是我們得找到方法。

if we're actually going to address sustainability

如果我們真想解決

of interlocking those complex systems

那些相互連結的複雜系統內的永續性，

and making better choices that result

並且做出更好的選擇，

in net environmental gains.

獲得環境淨收益。

What we need to do is we need to learn

我們就要學會做到

to do more with less.

事半功倍。

We have an increasing population,

我們的人口在不斷增長，

and everybody likes their mobile phones,

人人都喜歡拿著自己的手機，

especially in this situation here.

特別是在聽演講的時候。

So we need to find innovative ways of solving some of these problems that we face.

因此要解決我們面對的這些問題， 我們需要找出創新方法。

And that's where this process called life cycle thinking comes in.

這就是「生命週期思維過程 」所關注的。

So essentially, everything that is created

基本上每一樣被創造出來的東西，

goes through a series of life cycle stages,

都要經歷一系列的生命週期階段，

and we use this scientific process

我們利用的這種科學研究過程，

called life cycle assessment,

被稱為生命週期評估。

or in America, you guys say life cycle analysis,

在美國，它被稱為生命週期分析。

in order to have a clearer picture of how

爲了得到一個清晰的圖景，

everything that we do in the technical part of those systems

來顯示在這些系統的技術層面， 人類的每個做法

affects the natural environment.

是怎樣影響到自然環境的。

So we go all the way back

我們一直追溯到最初，

to the extraction of raw materials,

從提取原始材料開始，

and then we look at manufacturing,

然後加工製造的過程，

we look at packaging and transportation,

我們考察包裝、運輸、使用，

use, and end of life,

一直到使用壽命終結。

and at every single one of these stages,

在其中的每一個階段，

the things that we do

我們所做的每一件事

have an interaction with the natural environment,

都與自然環境相互作用。

and we can monitor how that interaction

我們可以觀察這種相互作用

is actually affecting the systems and services

如何影響著所有的系統和服務，

that make life on Earth possible.

使地球上生命的存在成為可能。

And through doing this,

通過這些工作，

we've learned some absolutely fascinating things.

我們發現了一些相當有趣的事。

And we've busted a bunch of myths.

我們已經解決了一連串的謎題。

So to start with, there's a word that's used a lot.

首先，有這樣一個使用頻繁的單詞，

It's used a lot in marketing,

經常在市場行銷中使用，

and it's used a lot, I think, in our conversation

人們在談話中經常提到，

when we're talking about sustainability,

如果談論的話題與永續性相關。

and that's the word biodegradability.

即「 生物降解 」。

Now biodegradability is a material property;

生物降解是一種材料屬性，

it is not a definition of environmental benefits.

不等於有益於環境。

Allow me to explain.

允我解釋一下，

When something natural,

某些天然物質

something that's made from a cellulose fiber

由纖維素纖維構成，

like a piece of bread, even, or any food waste,

像是一塊麵包或是那些食物垃圾，

or even a piece of paper,

甚至是一張紙。

when something natural ends up

當這種天然物質最終化為

in the natural environment, it degrades normally.

自然界中的一部份，它就屬於自然分解。

Its little carbon molecules that it stored up

它本身具有的碳分子，

as it was growing are naturally released

隨著自身增長而增長的碳分子， 自然而然地會

back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide,

以二氧化碳的形式被釋放到大氣中。

but this is a net situation.

這是一種純粹的降解方式。

Most natural things

大多數由自然物質構成的事物

don't actually end up in nature.

並不會終結於自然界中。

Most of the things, the waste that we produce, end up in landfill.

人類製造的廢棄物多半被棄置在垃圾站。

Landfill is a different environment.

垃圾填築地是另一種環境。

In landfill, those same carbon molecules

在垃圾填築地，同樣的碳分子

degrade in a different way,

以不一樣的方式進行降解，

because a landfill is anaerobic.

因為垃圾站是厭氧性環境，

It's got no oxygen. It's tightly compacted and hot.

那裡沒有氧氣，緊密堆積且熱氣騰騰。

Those same molecules, they become methane,

在垃圾填築地，同樣的分子形成甲烷。

and methane is a 25 times more potent

比二氧化碳造成的

greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

溫室效應強25倍。

So our old lettuces and products

我們扔掉的

that we have thrown out that are made

蔬菜和日用品，

out of biodegradable materials,

即便由生物降解材料構成，

if they end up in landfill,

一旦進入垃圾填築地，

contribute to climate change.

就會促進氣候變化。

You see, there are facilities now

現在有些設備

that can actually capture that methane

能夠收集甲烷，

and generate power,

轉化成電能，

displacing the need for fossil fuel power,

替代化石燃料發電。

but we need to be smart about this.

但這些需要人們機智的對待。

We need to identify how we can start to leverage

我們需要明瞭，怎樣去影響

these types of things that are already happening

這些時刻發生的反應。

and start to design systems and services

怎樣去設計系統和服務體系

that alleviate these problems.

來解決這些問題。

Because right now, what people do is they turn around and they say,

因為當下，人們只會回過頭來說：

"Let's ban plastic bags. We'll give people paper

「禁止使用塑料袋。我們為人們提供紙袋

because that is better for the environment."

因為紙袋更有利於環境。」

But if you're throwing it in the bin,

但如果你把它扔進了垃圾箱，

and your local landfill facility

而且當地垃圾填築站的設備

is just a normal one,

又很普通，

then we're having what's called a double negative.

那麼我們就遭遇了雙重否定（即破壞環境）。

I'm a product designer by trade.

我的職業是產品設計師，

I then did social science.

然後才是從事社會科學。

And so I'm absolutely fascinated

所以我很著迷於

by consumer goods and how the consumer goods

消費品，著迷於那些

that we have kind of become immune to

我們多少有些麻木了的、

that fill our lives

充斥著我們的生活的消費品

have an impact on the natural environment.

是怎樣影響自然環境的。

And these guys are, like, serial offenders,

這些消費品就好像累犯一樣。

and I'm pretty sure everyone in this room

我十分確定這裡的每一個人家裡

has a refrigerator.

都有一台冰箱。

Now America has this amazing ability

美國有驚人的實力，

to keep growing refrigerators.

不斷擴大冰箱的容積。

In the last few years, they've grown one cubic foot

過去的幾年間，冰箱的

on average, the standard size

標準體積平均擴大了

of a refrigerator.

一立方英尺。

And the problem is, they're so big now,

問題是，冰箱已經過大了，

it's easier for us to buy more food

容易讓人買更多的、

that we can't eat or find.

找不到又吃不下的食物。

I mean, I have things at the back of my refrigerator

我就有些食物放在冰箱深處

that have been there for years, all right?

有些年頭了，好嗎？

And so what happens is, we waste more food.

所以實情是我們會浪費更多食物。

And as I was just explaining, food waste is a problem.

我剛剛說明的是 浪費食物是個問題。

In fact, here in the U.S., 40 percent

事實上，在美國有40%的

of food purchased for the home is wasted.

家庭購買的食物被浪費。

Half of the world's produced food is wasted.

世界上有一半的食物被浪費掉。

That's the latest U.N. stats. Up to half of the food.

這是聯合國最新的統計數據， 高達一半的食物被浪費。

It's insane. It's 1.3 billion tons of food per annum.

這太荒唐了，相當於每年13億噸的食物。

And I blame it on the refrigerator,

我將這種顯現歸咎於冰箱的使用。

well, especially in Western cultures,

特別是基於西方文化，

because it makes it easier.

因為冰箱使人更容易浪費食物。

I mean, there's a lot of complex systems going on here.

這其中有太多複雜的體系。

I don't want to make it so simplistic.

我不想將它簡單化。

But the refrigerator is a serious contributor to this,

但是冰箱是其中一個嚴峻的促因。

and one of the features of it

它有一個特色，

is the crisper drawer.

就是保鮮儲藏格。

You all got crisper drawers?

大家都有保鮮箱吧？

The drawer that you put your lettuces in?

就是放生菜的那一格？

Lettuces have a habit of going soggy

生菜會變得濕軟，

in the crisper drawers, don't they?

在保鮮箱裡，對吧？

Yeah? Soggy lettuces?

變軟的生菜？

In the U.K., this is such a problem

在英國，這樣一個問題

that there was a government report a few years ago

在幾年前被寫成了一份政府報告。

that actually said the second biggest offender

報告稱，英國第二大

of wasted food in the U.K. is the soggy lettuce.

浪費的食物就是變軟的生菜。

It was called the Soggy Lettuce Report.

該報告被稱為《軟生菜報告》。

Okay? So this is a problem, people.

所以，朋友，這是個問題。

These poor little lettuces are getting thrown out

那些不幸的生菜被扔得

left, right and center because the crisper drawers

到處都是，就因為保鮮箱

are not designed to actually keep things crisp.

沒真正起到保鮮的作用。

Okay. You need a tight environment.

你需要一個密閉的環境。

You need, like, an airless environment

像沒有空氣的環境

to prevent the degrading that would happen naturally.

來防止降解的自然發生。

But the crisper drawers, they're just a drawer

但是保鮮箱只是個

with a slightly better seal.

密封較好的抽屜而已。

Anyway, I'm clearly obsessed.

總之，很明顯，我困惑了。

Don't ever invite me over because I'll just start going through your refrigerator

永遠別邀請我去你家。 因為我會檢查你的冰箱，

and looking at all sorts of things like that.

查看所有這類現象。

But essentially, this is a big problem.

但本質上，這是個大問題。

Because when we lose something like the lettuce from the system,

因為在這個系統內， 當我們扔掉生菜這類食物，

not only do we have that impact I just explained at the end of life,

不只是影響到 我剛剛提到的生命的終結，

but we actually have had to grow that lettuce.

還影響到種植生菜這個起點。

The life cycle impact of that lettuce is astronomical.

對生菜生命週期的影響是難以估計的。

We've had to clear land.

我們已經備好了耕地，

We've had to plant seeds, phosphorus,

我們已經種了種子，撒了磷，

fertilizers, nutrients, water, sunlight.

撒了化肥，養肥，澆了水，曬了陽光。

All of the embodied impacts in that lettuce

所有體現在那顆生菜上的作用

get lost from the system,

從系統中丟失了。

which makes it a far bigger environmental impact

這使得它對環境有更大的影響，

than the loss of the energy from the fridge.

比冰箱的能量損失嚴重得多。

So we need to design things like this far better

所以我們需要好得多的設計。

if we're going to start addressing serious environmental problems.

如果我們要著手 解決這些嚴重的環境問題，

We could start with the crisper drawer and the size.

我們可以從保鮮盒抽屜的大小著手。

For those of you in the room who do design fridges,

對於在座的設計的冰箱各位來講，

that would be great.

這是極好的。

The problem is, imagine if we

問題是，想像一下，如果我們

actually started to reconsider how we designed things.

重新開始考慮我們是怎樣進行設計的。

So I look at the refrigerator as a sign of modernity,

所以我將冰箱視為現代化的標誌。

but we actually haven't really changed the design

但其實自1950 年代以來，我們並沒有

of them that much since the 1950s.

對這個設計做多少改變。

A little bit, but essentially they're still big boxes,

有點變化，但本質上它們還是大箱子，

cold boxes that we store stuff in.

用於存儲食物的冷藏盒。

So imagine if we actually really started

想像一下，我們是否真的開始

to identify these problems and use that

面對這些問題。

as the foundation for finding innovative and elegant

並且將其作為基準，來尋找

design solutions that will solve those problems.

創新一流的設計方案，來解決這些問題。

This is design-led system change,

這是系統的設計性變化，

design dictating the way in which the system

設計指出了一種令該系統