Shipbreaking's toxic legacy: Unseen environmental and human costs

Why It Matters

Understanding the full lifecycle impact of industrial processes, including end-of-life stages like shipbreaking, is vital for responsible design. This research highlights the critical need to consider the downstream environmental and social consequences of material choices and disposal methods, pushing for more sustainable and equitable solutions.

Key Finding

The process of breaking down ships releases hazardous substances into the environment, causing harm to people and ecosystems. This harm is often a result of systemic issues within the industry that prioritize profit over safety and environmental protection, leading to unequal health outcomes for those working in or living near shipbreaking yards.

Key Findings

• Shipbreaking creates 'toxic flows' of hazardous materials that pollute coastal communities and wetlands.
• These 'toxic leakages' are a form of 'structural violence' embedded in the maritime economy's accumulation strategies, leading to unequal life chances.
• The lack of state regulatory enforcement and supervision exacerbates the health risks and reduced life expectancies for exposed populations.
• International conventions like the Hong Kong Convention offer potential pathways to contain these toxic flows, but their effectiveness depends on robust implementation.

Research Evidence

Aim: How do the 'toxic flows' from shipbreaking contribute to structural violence and impact coastal communities and ecologies, and what are the implications of international conventions for mitigating these effects?

Method: Ethnographic research

Procedure: Conducted multi-scaled and multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork with shipbreaking workers, fishing communities, yard owners, maritime consultants, and government officials in Chattogram, Bangladesh, to trace the lived experiences of industrial pollution.

Context: Ship recycling industry in South Asia, specifically focusing on Bangladesh.

Design Principle

Design for disassembly and material stewardship throughout the entire product lifecycle.

How to Apply

When designing products or systems that involve material processing or end-of-life management, actively research and account for potential hazardous waste streams and their impact on surrounding communities and ecosystems. Advocate for circular economy principles and robust regulatory compliance.

Limitations

The study's focus is on specific geographical locations in South Asia, and the effectiveness of international conventions is still under evaluation.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: Breaking down old ships releases dangerous chemicals into the environment, hurting people and nature because the system is set up to value money over safety, and governments aren't watching closely enough.

Why This Matters: This research shows that design decisions can have far-reaching environmental and social consequences, especially when dealing with hazardous materials at the end of a product's life. It emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations and systemic thinking in design.

Critical Thinking: How can design actively counteract 'structural violence' by prioritizing human and environmental well-being over pure economic accumulation, especially in industries with inherent toxic risks?

IA-Ready Paragraph: The shipbreaking industry exemplifies how industrial accumulation strategies can embed 'structural violence,' leading to significant toxic leakages that disproportionately affect vulnerable coastal communities and ecosystems. This research highlights the critical need for designers to consider the full lifecycle impact of materials and processes, advocating for robust regulatory oversight and equitable resource management to mitigate such harms.

Project Tips

• When researching materials, look beyond their initial properties to their disposal and potential environmental impact.
• Consider the social and ethical implications of your design choices, especially concerning vulnerable communities.
• Investigate existing regulations and international standards relevant to your design project's materials and processes.

How to Use in IA

• Use this research to justify the selection of materials that are less toxic or easier to recycle, or to design products with a more responsible end-of-life plan.
• Cite this study when discussing the environmental and social impacts of industrial processes or the importance of regulatory frameworks in design.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding of the broader societal and environmental impacts of design choices, not just the functional aspects.
• Show how you have considered the ethical implications of your design, particularly concerning resource use and waste management.

Independent Variable: Shipbreaking practices and regulatory enforcement.

Dependent Variable: Environmental pollution (toxic flows) and health/social impacts on communities.

Controlled Variables: Economic pressures within the maritime industry, geographical location of shipbreaking yards.

Strengths

• Provides a nuanced understanding of the socio-environmental impacts of shipbreaking.
• Connects industrial practices to broader concepts of structural violence and inequality.

Critical Questions

• To what extent can international conventions effectively address 'structural violence' embedded in global industries?
• How can design innovation disrupt the logic of accumulation that perpetuates environmental degradation and social inequality?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the lifecycle of a specific material or product, focusing on its end-of-life management and potential for environmental harm.
• Propose design solutions that minimize toxic waste and promote a circular economy, considering the social equity implications.

Source

Global containments and local leakages: Structural violence and the toxic flows of shipbreaking · Environment and Planning C Politics and Space · 2023 · 10.1177/23996544231208202