Design Life-Cycle

Ariana Shevchuk

Molly Doyle, Gunnor Faulk

DES 40A Fall 2019

Prof Christina Cogdell, TA Elizabeth Marley

4 Dec. 2019

Raw Materials - ENO Sub6 Hammock

Many outdoors enthusiasts are passionate about the environment, however, they tend to overlook the fact that the gear that they are using to experience nature is most likely harming it due to its product lifecycle. A company that exemplifies this is ENO, short for Eagle’s Nest Outfitters, founded in 1999. They self-report that they started hammocking culture after their creation of the first knotless hammock suspension system which made hammocking more accessible to the general public (12). They employ an eco-conscious brand, advertising on their website that they are a 1% for the Planet member and that they “plant two trees for each hammock sold”(12). After the success of their earlier models, ENO released the Sub6 hammock, answering to the trend towards ultralight gear in the sports and recreation markets. At 5.8 ounces, the Sub6 is comparable in weight to other ultralight hammocks at its price point, however, their recommended suspension system (sold separately), is about twice the weight of its competitors (1). The ENO Sub6 hammock is made of three main materials: 30D Ripstop Tafetta Nylon, Aluminum, and Dyneema Fiber. This paper will analyze how each of these raw materials journey through the processes of acquisition, manufacturing, distribution, maintenance, to waste management and how each lifecycle step contributes to the products’s overall effect on the environment. The raw materials that are used to manufacture the ENO Sub6 Hammock have a negative impact due to their varied levels of toxicity to the environment and how they negatively interact through each step of their life-cycle.

The ENO website lists 30D Taffeta Ripstop Nylon as the main material in the Hammock (12). This ripstop nylon is the main material in the product, making up the largest portion of the hammock in which the user would actually lay down or sit in (12). Ripstop fabrics have become a popular choice for outdoor gear, given their durability, water resistance, and lightweight nature (5). A ripstop fabric can be identified by its tell tale grid or diamond like thread pattern — this interlocking grid pattern literally stops rips from growing any larger with the larger threads providing a barrier that blocks a potential rip from continuing down a thread line (5). Ripstop nylon varies from typical nylon fabric in that ripstop nylon is created by taking another material and weaving nylon into that material’s base, creating an interlocking grid pattern that adds to the material’s durability (5). Typical nylon fabric simply weaves together nylon threads, skipping the interlocking grid pattern making it a less durable choice (7). The Sub6 uses a 30Denier taffeta ripstop nylon, meaning that they use a taffeta base and weave nylon threads into it to create the interlocking grid pattern.

Cited as the world’s most versatile synthetic material, nylon is a plastic product used to create many day-to-day items (7). Nylon threads begin their lifecycle as a monomer extracted from crude oil called diamine acid (3). Crude oil extraction is famous for its many harmful effects on the environment; petroleum refining releases harmful toxins into the air, releases CO2, and puts its environment at risk due to the possibility of oil spills (3). After the diamine acid is extracted from crude oil, it is then reacted with adipic acid to create a polymer which is heated until molten (3). The molten substance is put through a spinneret and then placed on a spool and stretched (3). After being wrapped around another spool, the nylon fibers can be weaved into a base material to form the ripstop nylon fabric (3). The base material that is used by ENO is taffeta (12), and while they do not list what their taffeta is made of, it is safe to assume it is not from the traditional silk (6). It is now more common to see taffeta made from rayon, acetate, or nylon — all synthetic fibers either derived from cellulose or petroleum (6). It is most likely that ENO utilizes a nylon taffeta base, derived from petroleum, however, rayon and acetate would still involve chemically treating natural substances, making either of those insignificant substitutions (9). After the nylon threads have been weaved into the base taffeta layer, the fabric is ready to be dyed and sewed into the hammock (6).

The aluminum toggles on the hammock make up the second main material in the Sub6 hammock. They are used to connect the dyneema fiber line to whatever suspension system the customer chooses to use with the Sub6. These toggles start their life cycle in the earth, where bauxite ore is mined and alumina is then extracted from (9). This aluminum is converted to liquid aluminum ore with scraps being remelted to make wrought alloys or refined to make casting alloys (2). This liquid aluminum is now ready to be poured into molds or otherwise shaped (2) — while ENO doesn’t specify how their toggles are shaped, a possibility is that the liquid aluminum is poured into a hollow half mold twice, the two then being combined to create a singular toggle. Each Sub6 has two toggles, meaning this process would have to be repeated twice per hammock. 

The Dyneema fiber line is the main support of the hammock, it gets attached to a suspension system and is threaded through the top part of the ripstop nylon fabric to create actually sit-able hammock. Dyneema fiber is the branded name for the Dyneema company’s version of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (10). High density polyethylene (HDPE), the kind found in Dyneema fiber, is produced from either changing a natural gas (ethane, propane mix, or methane) or through the “cracking of crude oil into gasoline” (11). The Dyneema company has a patented gel spinning method where they stretch and spin the polyethylene fibers to create a long chain that transfers load better to the polymer backbone, creating a stronger fiber — even measuring in at 15 times stronger than steel on a weight for weight basis (3). ENO’s choice to use this brand of fiber to create their line makes sense; Dyneema fiber is expensive, ruling out the possibility for the entire hammock to be made of it, however, by using Dyneema as their main support line the Sub6 can save weight while still being able to support up to 300lbs.

ENO does not publicly advertise any part of their supply or manufacturing chain, so distribution and transportation of these individual materials is largely up to guess work. The crude oil used to make nylon is extracted from the earth and then transported to refineries via pipelines, the refined crude oil then most likely being transported to the manufacturing company to begin the nylon thread process. These companies are possibly located abroad in either China or India where labor is cheaper than in the US, however, there is a small possibility that ENO sources from a more locally based company. The polyethylene that makes up the Dyneema fiber also starts as crude oil or natural gas, following a similar transportation chain as nylon. Bauxite ore, the raw material in the aluminum toggles, must be mined and then converted to aluminum which is then transported to a manufacturing plant to be shaped into the final toggles. These toggles must then be shipped back to ENO’s final assembly plant where they are attached to the Dyneema fiber line.

If used and maintained properly, the Sub6 can be re-used for many years. The ripstop nylon is tear and water resistant, however, if any holes do appear in the hammock they can be easily sewn and resealed since the ripstop does not allow for rips to grow larger in size over time. The aluminum toggles found in the hammock may be replaced as well as the Dyneema fiber line if need be. Since hammocks are essentially large strips of fabric that are then suspended, it would be relatively simple to detach the ripstop nylon from the line and recycle the large amount of fabric into another piece of gear. The same could be said for the Dyneema fiber line which could easily repurposed into rope or a line for another hammock. Otherwise, its difficult to recycle used synthetic fabrics like ripstop nylon due to their need to be cleaned and re-processed (4), meaning that the hammock will most likely end up in a landfill.

Despite their advertised commitment to helping the environment, ENO is disappointingly not transparent with their manufacturing processes. This forced me to make conjectures based on similar company’s supply and manufacturing chains as well as public knowledge of how to create and use the materials ENO listed on their website. ENO’s products rely heavily on materials derived from crude oil and fossil fuels, adding to a negative overall impact on the environment. The Sub6 Ultralight Hammock specifically employs three different materials, two of which start as crude oil (Ripstop nylon and Dyneema fiber line) and the third involves a resource-draining mining operation (aluminum toggles). Options for recycling or reuse of the hammock at the end of its lifecycle are limited as well.

Bibliography

1 “10 Best Backpacking Hammocks of 2019.” CleverHiker, www.cleverhiker.com/best-backpacking-hammocks.

2 Cullen, Johnathan M. “Mapping the Global Flow of Aluminum: From Liquid Aluminum to End-Use Goods.” Environmental Science & Technology, 2013, pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es304256s.

3 “Dyneema® Fiber.” Dyneema, Dyneema, www.dsm.com/products/dyneema/en_US/technologies/dyneema-form-factors/fiber.html.

4 “How to Recycle Nylon.” RecycleNation, 25 Nov. 2014, recyclenation.com/2014/11/recycle-nylon/.

5 Kayne, R., and O. Wallace. “What Is Ripstop Fabric?” WiseGEEK, Conjecture Corporation, 20 Nov. 2019, www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ripstop-fabric.htm.

6 Laxman, Shyama, et al. “What Is Taffeta? The Origins, Benefits And How It's Made.” Contrado Blog, 28 Nov. 2019, www.contrado.co.uk/blog/taffeta-origins-benefits-made/.

7 “Nylon - The Science of Synthetic Textiles.” Explain That Stuff, 31 Jan. 2019, www.explainthatstuff.com/nylon.html.

8 “Polyethylene (PE).” Polyethylene (PE) Plastic: Properties, Uses & Application, omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/polyethylene-plastic.

9 “Rayon.” Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion, Encyclopedia.com, 26 Nov. 2019, www.encyclopedia.com/sports-and-everyday-life/fashion-and-clothing/textiles-and-weaving/rayon.

10 Sewport. “What Is Nylon Fabric: Properties, How Its Made and Where.” Sewport, Sewport, sewport.com/fabrics-directory/nylon-fabric.

11 Spooner, Alecia M. “What Is the Environmental Impact of Petroleum and Natural Gas?” Dummies, www.dummies.com/education/science/environmental-science/what-is-the-environmental-impact-of-petroleum-and-natural-gas/.

12 “Sub6™ Ultralight Hammock.” Default Store View, Eagles Nest Outfitters, www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/shop/hammocks/sub6-hammock/.

Molly Doyle 

Ariana Shevchuk, Gunnor Faulk 

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

ENO Sub6 Ultralight Hammock - Energy

As with most products these days, the amount of energy that goes into production, transportation, and consumption has reached an extreme high. Even with products claiming  they are “sustainably made” or “made from recycled materials” there is still an intense manufacturing process that occurs and has its own rates of energy consumption and pollution. Buyers are influenced by brands and their commitments to offering cleaner products, but these claims also can lead people astray. Outdoor adventure brands, like Patagonia, REI, or the North Face, often advertise with “Save The Earth” campaigns, but continue to practice environment-damaging manufacturing habits. Eagle Nest Outfitters (ENO), a company we are looking at in this paper, furthers this conundrum; the manufacturing of their Sub 6 Ultralight Hammock requires an immense amount of energy throughout its production lifecycle that causes serious environmental damage. 

The Sub 6 Ultralight Hammock consists of three components as shown in Appendix A: a Dyneema fiber cord that runs from each end of the hammock, aluminum toggles on the ends of those lines, and ripstop nylon fabric creating the base of the hammock. In this essay, I will discuss the energy involved within every step of this hammock’s life cycle, from the acquisition of raw materials through the production, transportation, and recycling of each of these materials. Altogether, this product requires a large amount of energy to create; by thoroughly discussing these three materials, we can track the energy used during the life of this product.

The creation of this product begins with the acquisition of its raw materials, starting with the aluminum used in the hammock’s end toggles. Aluminum is created from bauxite, a naturally occurring ore. ENO does not disclose their exact distributor of aluminum or where they source this material; however, when generally speaking, aluminum is sourced from areas containing “bauxite… typically found in the topsoil of various tropical and subtropical regions” (The Aluminum Association). In the United States, most of this raw bauxite ore is imported from Jamaica or South America, a transportation process that involves various trucks, trains, planes, and ships. All of these vessels require large amounts of energy to run, whether it be gas, oil or coal; this is a common trend among the materials used in the Sub6 Ultralight Hammock. Dyneema fiber and nylon, although both man-made materials, are composed of molecules originating from petroleum oil or coal, which is extracted and often imported from foreign countries like Saudi Arabia or Russia. This globalization of materials allows for economic growth and rapid manufacturing, but at the cost of greatly increasing the embodied energy of the finished products. 

Once raw materials are sourced to their respective factories, they undergo initial stages of manufacturing. Looking at the process for refining aluminum, bauxite ore has to be smelted through the Bayer Process and the Hall–Héroult process; both of these utilize multiple forms of energy. Chemical energy is used in the Bayer Process during the digestion of bauxite in sodium hydroxide solutions or throughout other steps where chemicals are added to purify the raw ore into refined aluminum (Polmear). Mechanical energy is implemented here through the machines used to extract the ore, crush large pieces of minerals, and stir vats of molten rock. Lastly, and possibly most importantly, thermal energy is a large contributor to the refinement process of aluminum. Chemical processes are all fueled by high temperatures as a direct result from various forms of thermal energy such fires and fuel combustion. As shown in the Energy Consumption Graph (Appendix B), the aluminum industry is a large consumer of energy in the manufacturing sector, reaching over 300 trillion British thermal units of fuel in the year 2006 (EIA). This mega-consumption is partly due to the fact the aluminum industry is so wide-spread across our economy, but also because of the strenuous processes involved with creating the metal. 

Continuing within the manufacturing stage, the next material is the Dyneema fiber. This process, created by Koninklijke DSM, a Dutch manufacturing company, is intensive. Large amounts of kinetic and thermal energy are utilized through the material itself, with the “patented gel spinning process in which the fibers are drawn, heated, elongated, and cooled. Stretching and spinning leads to molecular alignment, high crystallization, and low density,” all of which create a stronger yet lighter fiber (Dyneema). Chemical energy is also utilized within this production process; the reactions that occur within the gel spinning process are temperature dependent and alter the molecular makeup and structure within the elements as it undergoes temperature changes. Thermal energy is once again used to power the machinery throughout this process. Spinnerets and other tools are connected to energy sources that draw from coal or oil processes. Exact numerical amounts of energy used within this stage was not readily available online, perhaps because the creation of Dyneema is a patent process and is relatively new within the last 50 years. 

The last material, nylon, could be the most energy intensive during this manufacturing process. Nylon is woven using two different methods; nylon taffeta and ripstop nylon. Nylon taffeta is a practice that involves very precise weaving, utilizing kinetic energy to bind and connect nylon fibers into tight, intricate criss-cross patterns (Laxman). The result is a stiff, yet lightweight and durable piece of shiny fabric. Ripstop nylon also involves a weaving technique to bind nylon fibers together, but is lighter and more flexible than taffeta fabric. Ripstop nylon is the main fabric in our hammock, and is generally more commonly used in outdoor clothing and gear (Johnson). Nylon does not naturally occur in nature; it is a synthetic, man made material created by reacting two large molecules using heat and pressure, respective forms of thermal and kinetic energy, and undergoing condensation polymerization. This is a process where water is expelled from molecules and they become a long chain, or polymer, that becomes a strong, sturdy plastic and is from there used for a variety of things (Woodford). According to Ecotextiles, the total embodied energy of a nylon fiber is 250 MJ per 1 KG of fiber. Compared to other materials such as cotton or wool, which estimate around a 60 MJ/KG, the fabrication of nylon uses a huge amount of energy.

Once these materials have been refined, smelted, or fabricated, the hammock has to be assembled. Although it is not directly disclosed where ENO products are made, their central headquarters are in Asheville, NC, which infers production is within the United States. Aluminum must be cut and molded into the toggles used on the hammocks, a process that requires thermal energy to shape the metal and kinetic energy to cut into pieces. The nylon fabric also has to be cut and sewn into the hammock’s form; given ripstop nylon’s silky and slippery nature, it is extremely difficult to sew and oftentimes requires more energy put into creating zig-zag stitches that are far more sturdy (Canvas ETC). The Dyneema cord is then sewn to the hammock and aluminum toggles are secured to the ends. The finished hammock is now ready for distributing.

ENO Hammocks are sold in over 1,500 locations across 4 continents (ENO). This wide presence in the outdoor adventure community requires sizable efforts to ship, stock, and sell their products across the world. When looking at this transportation stage of the life cycle, we must consider the energy involved with trains, trucks, ships, and airplanes. If we examined each of these methods today, it would not give us an accurate report as to exactly how much energy ENO uses for their products specifically, since they do not own their own distribution line and they use the common shipper UPS along with other companies. It is imperative, however, to keep in mind that every product and material must be packaged and shipped, and this global distribution adds to ENO’s overall carbon footprint and energy use. 

  The next stage to examine in this product’s life cycle is the use and maintenance. Once the hammock is created and received by the consumer, it is a zero-energy product, apart from the physical energy one must exert during setup. The hammock has two ropes that are wrapped around a tree or clipped via carabiners to a hammock stand. There is no energy required to run or use this product. If the hammock is ripped or damaged, most repair work can be done using a needle and thread, but occasionally the damage is beyond repair and it must be thrown out or used for a different purpose. This is when the imperative stage of recycling begins. 

It is a lengthy process to recycle a Sub6 Ultralight Hammock. The main recyclable material involved in this product is the aluminum toggles. This form of aluminum is not as commonly recycled as cans or aluminum sheeting are, but similar processes still apply. The U.S. Energy Information Administration explains, “producing secondary aluminum [recycling] involves cleaning and separating aluminum scrap from other materials and melting it down in a furnace, usually fired by natural gas. Compared to the energy requirements of primary production, secondary production is much less energy intensive,” (EIA.gov). Recycling the used nylon and Dyneema fiber is not as straightforward. Most of this recycling occurs in the form of reuse or repurposing, with some companies offering buy-back programs or discounts for future purchases if you return your used items. Breaking down these materials is an energy intensive process that poses certain risks; as The Guardian writes, “Unlike metals and glass… nylon is melted at a lower temperature, meaning some contaminants – non-recyclable materials and microbes or bacteria – can survive. This is why all nylons have to be cleaned thoroughly before the recycling process,” (theguardian.com). Due to this huge use of energy to recycle the hammock’s components, it is urged for these items to be mended when damaged, resold when no longer wanted, or repurposed after use. 

The mass production mindset of our economy has led big brands into developing habits with very high energy consumption rates. When considering the life cycle of a product, every stage requires energy; from the extraction of materials from the ground to the recycling processes at the end of a product’s life cycle, there is no longer the presence of a local fabrication system from which early human civilization grew. Although it may sound contradictory, big businesses and consumers alike often find the cheapest products at the farthest distance from them. Raw materials shipped in from foreign countries cost less than locally sourced options; consumers can buy mass quantities of goods or do online shopping from Chinese factories for significantly less of a cost. These habits increase the use of energy in shipping and packaging costs, and in turn continue to damage our already suffering planet. The biggest step towards a more sustainable economy is for the consumer to take a brief pause and examine the entirety of a product’s life cycle as we have in this essay. It is only then that our world’s detrimental practices will be called out and change will be made in the industry. 

Appendix A

Source: Eagle Nest Outfitters 

Appendix B

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey 2006.

Bibliography

“Dyneema Fiber.” Dyneema, https://www.dsm.com/products/dyneema/en_US/technologies/dyneema-form-factors/fiber.html. 

Edwards, Summer. “The Environmental Impacts of Nylon.” Tortoise & Lady Grey, 17 Oct. 2018, www.tortoiseandladygrey.com/2016/02/01/environmental-impacts-nylon/.

“Energy Needed to Produce Aluminum.” Today in Energy, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=7570.

“Estimating the Carbon Footprint of a Fabric.” O ECOTEXTILES, 31 Jan. 2012, oecotextiles.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/estimating-the-carbon-footprint-of-a-fabric/

“How to Sew Ripstop Nylon Fabric: Tips, Tricks & Projects.” Canvas ETC, https://www.canvasetc.com/sew-ripstop-nylon-fabric-tips/. 

Johnson, Sherri. "Energy Wise Insulated Outwear Selection and Care." (1980).

https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/205336/476_1980_31951D01927497O.pdf?sequence=1 

Laxman, Shyama. “What is Taffeta? The Origins, Benefits And How It’s Made.” Contrado, 16 October 2018,  https://www.contrado.co.uk/blog/taffeta-origins-benefits-made/. 

“Made in Asheville: Outdoors Inspiration.” Eagle Nest Outfitters, https://www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/made-in-asheville-outdoors-inspiration/. 

Polmear, I.J., “1.2.1 Bayer Process for Alumina Recovery.” Light Alloys: Metallurgy of the Light Metals, Butterworth-Heinemann, Elsevier, 2017.

“Primary Production.” The Aluminum Association, https://www.aluminum.org/industries/production/primary-production. 

“Sub6™ Ultralight Hammock.” ENO,  Eagles Nest Outfitters, Inc. https://www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/shop/sub6-hammock/. 

“Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethylene. 

Uyesugi, Andrew. "Down Hammock." U.S. Patent Application No. 16/385,980.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20190239626A1/en

Woodford, Chris. “Nylon.” Explain That Stuff! 31 January 2019, https://www.explainthatstuff.com/nylon.html. 

Gunnor, Faulk

Molly Doyle, Ariana Shevchuk

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

Waste Through Life Cycle of Eno Sub6 Hammock

A piece of furniture can be extremely valuable and reliable. Whether it’s indoor or outdoor furniture, products are being made from various raw materials everyday. A hammock is a piece of outdoor furniture that allows people to sit or lay outside, essentially up in the air with a piece of fabric connected to two or three trees. Modern day hikers, campers, and people who spend time in the outdoors use hammocks on the go or in their backyards. The Eno Sub6 hammock is a lightweight compact hammock made for people to use outdoors that is easily set up and taken down. The stable hammock is made from various materials and is designed to be extremely durable but has its faults. This paper will analyze the waste of the ENO Sub6 hammock throughout the product’s life-cycle in the gathering, producing, and usage of different raw materials. The waste and emissions are strongest during the manufacturing, transportation and recycling parts of the life cycle as the Eno company attempts to stay as environmentally friendly as possible. 

This piece of furniture ventures through its own lifecycle beginning with the acquisition of its raw materials. The Eno hammock is made primarily from 30D ripstop nylon, a durable fabric made from weaving nylon to increase its strength. According to an article written by Propper Administration, “ripstop is the extra threads of synthetic fiber that are placed within the weave at certain increments, usually 1/8 inch or smaller. Nylon and polyester are the two most common ripstop additives,” illuminating how ripstop is incorporated into these materials to improve them. Specifically looking at nylon, there are different types of nylon that use different raw materials but generate strong fibers. The research going into the Eno Sub6 hammock focuses on nylon made from polyamides and the nylon is acquired in preparation for production. This material is not organic therefore it’s created in chemical plants with organic chemicals found in natural materials such as coal and petroleum. Raw materials such as coal and petroleum are mined and then distributed to manufacturers who acquire the material for processing and formation. This process of acquiring raw materials necessary to create nylon includes waste. Coal alone produce several principal emissions that are harmful to the environment. Some of the things being emitted into the air include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, mercury, fly ash and bottom ash which all leave a carbon footprint (eia). Some waterborne waste can also be made through acquiring different petroleum oils and releasing them into open water sources leaving a negative impact on freshwater sources. The Eno company also uses aluminum toggles for its hammocks. Aluminum toggles offer secure and durable use, allowing the hammock to stay connected to the trees and support the maximum weight of 300 pounds according to the Eno company website. The aluminum is made primarily from alumina and bauxite. The metal is formed through electrolysis of alumina which extracts the pure metal. In an article written by the United States Environmental Protection Agency it addresses how, “Wastes can be generated at several points in the production process, including during the mining of the bauxite ore, and during the refinery production process,” proving that just by acquiring raw materials there will include waste but the demand is so high that companies continue to mine and manufacture. 

These hammocks are designed to be very durable, lightweight, and easy to use. The Eno company bases itself out of Asheville North Carolina where it can manufacture and ship its different outdoor products across the world. Manufacturing the 30D ripstop nylon into a working hammock is a process. The Eno Sub6 hammock was manufactured to be extremely lightweight (5.8 oz) to ensure people are using up the least amount of space while staying light and decreasing the time to set up and take down. A way the design saves time and space instead of wasting them is the attacked bag that the hammock fold into for campers and hikers on the go. Since the manufacturers aren’t the actual miners acquiring the raw materials, their working conditions are seemingly tolerable and don’t require a ton of physical energy. Through my research, I found that most of the products made my Eno use a sort of riposte nylon which can at times be considered a byproduct used for different styles of outdoor accessories such as tarps. The company has become very popular one because of its reliable products and lightweight gear. Once the hammocks are manufactured, they are ordered and shipped by people and organizations all over the country. 

The distribution and transportation of the Eno Sub6 hammock is nothing glamorous or very outside of the box. Distributors and sporting goods stores often carry the Eno brand and sell various styles of hammocks and gear. Due to having limited access to distributor information, the focus was mainly on transportation of the product. Stores across American can be found holding Eno hammocks but with the world moving into a digital state it’s important to address how these products are shipped and transported. Eno’s primary shipping location is western North Carolina and has optional international shipping if making an order from outside the country. Their shipping techniques involve motorized vehicles that can emit harmful toxins into the air that have a negative impact on the environment. According to the companies website, most orders arrive in 2-5 business days by way of UPS. UPS offers ground, SurePost, 2nd day air , next day air and priority shipping. Each of these produced waste because of the distance traveled at times along with the vehicles being used to emit gases into the air which can cause pollution. Once these hammocks are transported to buyers, there comes the use of the hammock and the reuse of its materials. 

These durable hammocks have a main use which is to lay or sit on the hammock as it is clipped to two separate trees to keep it above the ground. Often times when hammocks are tied to tree they do damage to the tree itself. Whether it’s pulling bark off the tree or tearing down branches hammocks can have a tendency to leave a mark. By placing the straps around the tree and connecting them to the hammock with aluminum toggles, the hammock becomes secure and able to carry a person's body weight. The hammock is easy to set up but has space for concern as it’s also easy for it to have an effect on the environment because there’s potential for the ground underneath to be tampered, trees can be damaged and waste through littering becomes a potential concern. Returning back to the trees, an article written by Grand Trunk stated that, “Thin straps or ropes can cut into their bark or strip it off entirely, which leaves the trees vulnerable to insects, fungus, animals, and the drying effects of wind and sun,” illuminating the risk factors of hammocks. After one is done with the use of their hammock, people can either decide to get rid or recycle their product.

The hammock is made up of materials such as ripstop nylon which does not biodegrade and either has to be incinerated or re-used to deter waste which is inevitable. To give an idea for the harm caused by burning these plastics, National Geographic author Elizabeth Route noted that, “In 2016, U.S. waste incinerators released the equivalent of 12 million tons of carbon dioxide, more than half of which came from plastics.” Though this data was collected three years ago, it still portrays the situation caused by incinerating plastics such as nylon and is viable in showing the carbon dioxide problem. Another risk is these hammocks is being left and unused in the environment. As stated before, these fabrics do not decay and do nothing beneficial to the environment but instead turn to waste. By recycling the damaged or unusable hammock the fabric can be used to make another product or donated for other uses. 

The waste created through the lifecycle of the hammock has to be managed. Eno works with a company named Clean Vibes that specializes in on-site waste management and clean up. According to Clean Vibes, “Our goal is to divert waste from landfills by increasing the amount of material that is recycled and composted, thereby greatly reducing the ecological footprint of outdoor festivals and events,” proving that Eno is attempting to be environmentally friendly by using this companies services. These services however do not work specifically for the waste created in the lifecycle of the Eno Sub6 Hammock which is the topic of discussion. Waste becomes difficult to manage as people will do as they will with their hammocks within the law. The product does not biodegrade when put into the ground. Eno also tries to stay away from dumps because there’s potential for the product to cause problems along with the simple fact that most of the fabric can often be reused or recycled in some type of way. 

The piece of furniture has an interesting life cycle. The Eno Sub6 hammock is a product of a seemingly environmentally friendly company with its flaws. The life cycle creates waste through the bulk of the cycle and struggles to manage waste in the end. The materials used to create a durable piece of furniture and has become more popular in recent years as designs have altered and evolved. Eno is moving in the right direction but could find some way to manage waste throughout the life cycle of the hammock. 

Bibliography 

Admin, Site. “What Exactly Is Ripstop?” Tactical Gear & Apparel, Propper, 30 July 2018, https://www.propper.com/blog/ripstop.

Centenaro, Luiz, and Summer Edwards. “The Environmental Impacts of Nylon.” Tortoise & Lady Grey, Tortoise & Lady Grey, 17 Oct. 2018, https://www.tortoiseandladygrey.com/2016/02/01/environmental-impacts-nylon/.

“Clean Vibes, LLC - Waste Diversion, Recycling, and Cleanup Services for Festivals and Events.” Clean Vibes, 2019, www.cleanvibes.com/index.cfm/about-us/our-mission/.

Euronews, and Euronews. “REDMUD Industry.” Euronews, 9 Apr. 2018, https://www.euronews.com/2018/04/02/aluminium-production-what-to-do-with-150-million-tons-of-waste.

eaglesnest, POSTED BY : “Made in Asheville: Outdoors Inspiration.” ENO - Eagles Nest Outfitters, 9 Mar. 2015, https://www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/made-in-asheville-outdoors-inspiration/.

“Here's Why Some Cities Are Banning Hammocks.” GrandTrunk, 7 Sept. 2017, www.grandtrunk.com/blogs/news/cities-banning-hammocking.

Laxman, Shyama. “What Is Taffeta? The Origins, Benefits And How It's Made.” Contrado Blog, 22 Oct. 2019, https://www.contrado.co.uk/blog/taffeta-origins-benefits-made/. 

“Post-Consumer And Post-Industrial Nylon Recycling.” Hazardous Waste Experts, 11 Feb. 2019, https://www.hazardouswasteexperts.com/post-consumer-and-post-industrial-nylon-recycling/.

“Primary Production.” Primary Production | The Aluminum Association, 12 Jan. 2017, http://www.aluminum.org/industries/production/primary-production.

Royte, Elizabeth. “Is Burning Plastic Waste a Good Idea?” National Geographic, 15 Mar. 2019, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/03/should-we-burn-plastic-waste/.

“Sub6™ Ultralight Hammock.” Default Store View, Eagles Nest Outfitters, Inc., 2019, https://www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/shop/sub6-hammock/.

“TENORM: Bauxite and Alumina Production Wastes.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 6 Oct. 2017, www.epa.gov/radiation/tenorm-bauxite-and-alumina-production-wastes.

Uren , Ashlee. “Material Guide: How Sustainable Is Nylon?” Good On You, 23 Jan. 2019, https://goodonyou.eco/material-guide-nylon/.

“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” Coal and the Environment - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 17 Jan. 2019, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/coal-and-the-environment.php.

Woodford, Chris. “Nylon - The Science of Synthetic Textiles.” Explain That Stuff, 31 Jan. 2019, https://www.explainthatstuff.com/nylon.html.