Ecodesign

Question 1

What is eco-design?

Answer 1

Eco-design means the integration of environmental aspects into product design with the aim of improving the environmental performance of the product throughout its whole life cycle.

Question 2

Driving forces to implement eco-design

Answer 2

1. Market opportunities = income/competitive advantage
   • Customer requirements
   • Reduced costs (LCC)
   The price on raw materials and energy is assumed to increase in the future
2. Concern for the environment
   • Ethics/attitude
3. Legal requirements
   • Eco-design directive
   • REACH, RoHS/WEEE, biocides regulation

Question 3

The steps of eco-strategy wheel

Answer 3

1. Optimize the function
2. Reduce the impact during use
3. Reduce the amount of materials
4. Select optimal materials
5. Optimize lifespan
6. Optimize production
7. Optimize waste treatment
8. Optimize distribution

Question 4

Optimize the function

Answer 4

Maximum use with minimal environmental impact. Start with considering which function you want and not which product, e.g. fire safety instead of flame retardants and hygiene instead of detergents.

Question 5

Reduce the impact during use

Answer 5

Minimize the energy consumption and use clean energy sources for the energy that is still needed. Help the user of the product to behave sustainable (nudge). To reduce the energy consumption during use one could give “dose” instructions to the user, make the product more energy efficient or make the site energy efficient.

Question 6

Reduce the amount of materials

Answer 6

One can reduce the amount of materials by removing unnecessary parts.

Question 7

Select optimal materials

Answer 7

One should avoid known toxic materials and reduce the use of materials that cause large emissions during manufacturing. Scarce materials or conflict materials should be reduced. If the product will move during use, it is a good idea to select lightweight material to reduce the energy consumption. One could also use surface treatments to minimize wear and tear and recycled materials to minimize the amount of new raw materials needed. By using materials that are recyclable, one can minimize the waste treatment impact.

Question 8

Optimize lifespan

Answer 8

The lifetime of a product could be prolonged by facilitating maintenance and repair, modular and classic design, as well as by strengthen the product-customer bond.

Question 9

Optimize production

Answer 9

Make the production methods energy efficient and use energy efficient equipment. The waste should be reduced as well as the emissions to air and water. By selecting sustainable suppliers one can ensure that the whole production chain is sustainable.

Question 10

Optimize waste treatment

Answer 10

Waste treatment can be optimized by preventing the product to become waste and minimize it. Furthermore, one can reuse the product or recycle the materials. These mentioned are the most favored options. Energy recovery is an option is reuse and recycling is not possible.
By making the product easy to dismantle, it is easier to recycle it. A well-functioning collection system is also a good idea as well as creating a market for recycled materials.

Question 11

Optimize distribution

Answer 11

The distribution could be optimized by condensed packaging, which makes it more space efficient. More product could then be transported on a smaller area. By using good transportation modes, one could reduce emissions from traffic. Good logistics are also essential, and one should not use the just-in-time on routine.