Jessica Moon
Today, 'Green' products are suddenly the rage, and producers are eager to convince their customers that their products are 'eco-friendly', 'kind to the environment', or 'natural', while the companies themselves are 'working to reduce their carbon footprint' or 'committed to environmental responsibility.'
No doubt many of these claims are genuine and reflect sincere efforts to be what they say. Yet many are little more than wishful thinking. Others are limited to particular environmental aspects such as the use of non-toxic materials or non-animal testing - while ignoring other important environmental concerns like energy efficiency or recyclability. Still others are just meaningless or even counter-productive environmental efforts. Some, alas, are nothing but 'green-washing'.
Real Design for Environment integrates comprehensive environmental factors into all facets of product development, from concept through manufacturing, and even including marketing, distribution, and use by the ultimate user. At the heart of DfE is Life-cycle Analysis and Life-cycle Inventory, a rigorous discipline that optimizes everything about a product "from dirt to dust". While comprehensive LCA may be too intensive for many product developments and for smaller companies, the essential aspects of the technique can always be used.
LCA techniques are used to optimize a product's or process's entire environmental footprint, including regard for the following environmental endpoints, among others:
©2008 Sustainnovation Consulting, Inc.
