GUIDELINES
This section of Matbase hands you some basic and easy to use guidelines to help you get started with design for sustainability. For background information on design for sustainability, EcoDesign, Design for the environment or Lifecycle design we would like to refer to the sites and manuals in our
Links-section regarding this subject.
The design guidelines are grouped in 8 strategies as shown in the Lifecycle strategies wheel. The wheel represents the product lifecycle and illustrates the continuous process of sustainable design, taking you to a higher level every cycle.
Fig 1 – Lifecycle design strategies wheel (Brezet & Van Hemel, 1998)
Before getting started, keep in mind that sustainable design is no exact science. The numbers are indicative and it’s all about relative improvements. Some of the strategies may be incompatible. Therefore every project should start with taking the following steps:
1. Find out what goals you would like or need to achieve
What are your motives to take up sustainable design? Are they of economical, social or legislative nature. Assess what specific impact your motives have on your future designs and set your goals.
2. Determine what strategies are feasible and most effective
Determine the importance, the level of complexity and the probable level of improvement for all aspects of the product’s lifecycle. For instance, an average truck will make more than 1 million km’s. After that it will have a second and possible third life in a different part of the world. Especially during its third life the maintenance will be kept to a minimum just to keep the truck running. Therefore emissions and fuel consumption are the main issues to address. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) on an existing or competitive product can help you assess the focus of your efforts. You can plot the results of the LCA on the strategic wheel.
3. Select the strategies to realise your goals
Now you know what your focus should be, you can match them with one or more EcoDesign strategies. Use your findings to weigh these strategies and apply them accordingly.
A standard approach is to constantly evaluate your results. Only when comparing the new design with the initial situation, you will know if your efforts have had the result you were aiming for. You can plot the new design on the EcoDesign strategy wheel against the initial design. Consider which strategies were effective, which were not so effective and try to assess where more improvements can be made the next design cycle. Sustainable design is a continuous process.
0) NEW CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
0a) Dematerialisation: Does the user actually need a product? Can we offer a service instead?
0b) Shared use of product: Is the user willing to share the product with others?
0c) Integration of functions: Can we combine the functions of different products in to one product?
0d) Functional optimization of product (components): Is it possible to use standard modular components to create a (complete) product range?
1) SELECT LOW-IMPACT MATERIALS
1a) Non-hazardous materials: Do we really need to use substances that harm the environment?
1b) Non-exhaustible materials: Is it possible to use renewable materials?
1c) Low energy content materials: Can we use materials that need less energy to produce?
1d) Recycled materials: Do we need to use virgin material?
1e) Recyclable materials: Is it possible to use materials that can be recycled?
2) REDUCTION OF MATERIALS
2a) Reduction in weight: Can we reduce the weight of the product by using less material or lighter materials?
2b) Reduction of (transportation) volume: Can we reduce the volume of the product to optimise transportation?
2c) Reduction of the number of materials: Is it possible to use less different materials?
3) OPTIMIZATION OF PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES
3a) Alternative production techniques: Are there production means available that are less harmful to the environment?
3b) Fewer production processes: Can we produce the same product by using fewer production steps?
3c) Low/clean energy consumption: Can we choose cleaner production methods?
3d) Low generation of waste: Is it possible to reduce or reuse the waste generated during production?
3e) Few/clean production consumables: Can we use fewer and less hazardous consumables during production?
4) EFFICIENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
4a) Less/clean packaging: Can we reduce the use of packaging material or use less harmful materials?
4b) Efficient transport mode: Have we chosen the most efficient mode of transportation for the product?
4c) Efficient logistics: Can we improve our logistics?
5) REDUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT DURING THE USER STAGE
5a) Low energy consumption: Can we minimise the product’s energy consumption?
5b) Clean energy source: Is it possible to use a cleaner energy source?
5c) Few consumables needed during use: Can we minimise the use of consumables?
5d) Clean consumables during use: Is it possible to use less harmful consumables?
6) OPTIMIZATION OF INITIAL LIFETIME
6a) Reliability and durability: Can we improve the overall reliability of the product?
6b) Easy maintenance and repair: Is the product easy to maintain and repair?
6c) Modular product structure: Is it possible to use standard components to repair the product?
6d) Classic design: Can we improve the fashionable lifetime of the product?
6e) User taking care of the product: Can we design a product which the user will not likely part from?
7) OPTIMIZATION OF END-OF-LIFE SYSTEM
7a) Reuse of product: Is it possible to give the product a second life?
7b) Remanufacturing/refurbishing: Can we fix and reuse (parts of) the product?
7c) Recycling of materials: Can we recycle the materials used in the product?
7d) Clean incineration: Will incineration of the product create low or no emissions and waste?
