Week 3 SI Flashcards
What is Ecodesign, and what is its main objective?
Ecodesign is a sustainable design approach aimed at minimizing environmental impact throughout a product’s entire lifecycle, from material sourcing to disposal.
What are “Factor Four” and “Factor Ten” in Ecodesign?
Factor Four aims to achieve four times the economic output from the same resources, while Factor Ten proposes a tenfold increase in resource efficiency, supporting transformational design.
Explain the concept of “eco-efficiency” in Ecodesign.
Eco-efficiency focuses on maximizing the economic value of a product while minimizing its environmental footprint, balancing profitability with sustainability.
Define “Life Cycle Thinking” in the context of Ecodesign
Life Cycle Thinking considers the environmental impacts of a product from raw material extraction through production, use, and disposal, ensuring sustainable decisions at each stage.
What is the Ecodesign Strategy Wheel, and how is it used?
The Ecodesign Strategy Wheel is a tool to assess and improve a product’s sustainability across its lifecycle, covering strategies such as low-impact materials, efficient packaging, and end-of-life recovery.
Name and briefly describe the eight strategies on the Ecodesign Strategy Wheel.
: 1) Low-Impact Materials: Use sustainable materials.
2) Clean Manufacturing: Minimize waste and energy in production.
3) Efficient Packaging: Reduce material and energy in packaging.
4) Use Efficiency: Design for low resource use during operation.
5) Extended Use: Ensure durability and ease of repair.
6) Recovery for Reuse: Enable reuse and repurposing.
7) End-of-Life: Design for recycling and responsible disposal.
8) System-Level: Innovate to meet user needs without new products.
What does the “Low-Impact Materials” strategy entail?
It involves selecting materials that are responsibly sourced, recyclable, safe, and renewable, and using minimal amounts to reduce environmental impact.
Explain the “Clean Manufacturing” strategy.
This strategy focuses on efficient and safe manufacturing processes, minimizing resource use, waste, and energy consumption, ideally using renewable energy.
What is “Use Efficiency” in Ecodesign?
Use Efficiency aims to reduce the environmental impact of a product during its use phase by minimizing energy, water, or other consumables needed for operation.
Describe “Extended Use” and its significance in sustainable design.
Extended Use focuses on designing durable, repairable, and upgradeable products to extend their lifespan and reduce the need for replacements.
What is meant by “Recovery for Reuse” in Ecodesign?
This strategy encourages the reuse or repurposing of products, components, or materials at the end of their primary life, reducing waste and demand for new resources.
Describe the “End-of-Life” strategy in Ecodesign.
End-of-Life involves designing products to be easily recycled, composted, or safely disposed of, reducing landfill waste and promoting resource recovery.
How does the “System-Level” strategy contribute to Ecodesign?
It emphasizes innovating at the system level, such as sharing or service-based models, to fulfill user needs with fewer products or less material use.
What is the significance of “trade-offs” in the Ecodesign Strategy Wheel?
Trade-offs occur when improving one aspect of sustainability (e.g., lightweighting) may negatively impact another (e.g., recyclability), requiring careful consideration.
What are the limitations of the Ecodesign Strategy Wheel?
It is a qualitative tool, not data-driven, and may confirm biases without specialist knowledge or quantitative tools like LCA. It also focuses mainly on environmental sustainability.
