Use of ecodesign tools and expectations for Product Environmental Footprint: Case study of Nordic textile and IT companies

Use of ecodesign tools and expectations for Product Environmental Footprint: Case study of Nordic textile and IT companies
Author: Salo, Hanna
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
Total Pages: 51
Release: 2019-09-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9289362545
GET BOOK

Download Use of ecodesign tools and expectations for Product Environmental Footprint: Case study of Nordic textile and IT companies Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Use of ecodesign tools and expectations for Product Environmental FootprintThe report examines the implementation of ecodesign and green innovations inNordic textile and IT companies. The findings of this report are: 1) The respondents are fairly mature in terms of how they integratedenvironmental sustainability into their operations. Companies are mainlydriven by general willingness but deterred by cost increases. 2) Companies remain focused on technical innovations, whereas functionalinnovations are lagging behind. 3) Ecodesign tools and research and development activities are highly relevantfor promoting innovations. 4) The main tools used are Type I Ecolabels, Life Cycle Assessment and CarbonFootprint. 5) Few respondents are familiar with PEF, but many are interested in it. PEF is predominantly seen as a way to evaluate the accuracy of environmentalproduct claims.

Nordic Swan Ecolabel and Product Environmental Footprint: Focus on Product Environmental Information

Nordic Swan Ecolabel and Product Environmental Footprint: Focus on Product Environmental Information
Author: Suikkanen, Johanna
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
Total Pages: 126
Release: 2019-09-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 928936260X
GET BOOK

Download Nordic Swan Ecolabel and Product Environmental Footprint: Focus on Product Environmental Information Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The purpose of this report is to compare the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and the Product Environmental Footprint with a focus on environmental information. The report compares the methods used by the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and the PEF to identify the product-group-specific relevant environmental aspects. The analysis is based on the currently valid Swan Criteria and pilot phase final PEF Category Rules (PEFCRs). The report concludes that there are methodological differences in the way product comparisons are made. The report proposes recommendations for both schemes in terms of co-operation and required further work, related to the differences in methodological approaches, to avoid very different results in what will be considered as an environmentally sound product.

Product Environmental Information and Product Policies: How Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) changes the situation?

Product Environmental Information and Product Policies: How Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) changes the situation?
Author: Nissinen, Ari
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
Total Pages: 75
Release: 2019-11-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9289363509
GET BOOK

Download Product Environmental Information and Product Policies: How Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) changes the situation? Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Reliable information is needed to drive the market towards ecologically sound products. Product Environmental Footprint has many properties that are new to the Life Cycle Assessment tradition, increasing the consistency, accuracy and comparability of the results. It is important to start the organization of the PEF scheme, and invest in efforts to rapidly increase the number of product and service groups and actual product-specific PEF reports involved in the PEF scheme. Possibilities for common information basis and coordination between environmental information sources for the various product policy instruments and the PEF should be explored. Cooperation between type 1 eco-labels like the Nordic Swan and the forthcoming PEF scheme(s) is important.

EcoDesign for Sustainable Products, Services and Social Systems I

EcoDesign for Sustainable Products, Services and Social Systems I
Author: Shinichi Fukushige
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 511
Release: 2024-01-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 981993818X
GET BOOK

Download EcoDesign for Sustainable Products, Services and Social Systems I Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This 2-volume book highlights cutting-edge ecodesign research and covers broad areas ranging from individual product and service design to social system design. It includes business and policy design, circular production, life cycle design and management, digitalization for sustainable manufacturing, user behavior and health, ecodesign of social infrastructure, sustainability education, sustainability indicators, and energy system design. Featuring selected papers presented at EcoDesign 2021: 12th International Symposium on Environmentally Conscious Design and Inverse Manufacturing, it also includes diverse, interdisciplinary approaches to foster ecodesign research and activities. In the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), it addresses design innovations for sustainable value creation, considering technological developments, legislation, and consumer lifestyles. Further, the book discusses the concept of circular economy, which aims to develop circular business models for resource efficient society by taking advantage of digital technologies including artificial intelligence, internet of things, digital twin, data analysis and simulation. Written by experts from academia and industry, Volume 1 highlights sustainable design such as product and process design, collaborative design, sustainable innovation, digital technologies, design methodology for sustainability, and energy system design. The methods, tools, and practices described are useful for readers to facilitate value creation for sustainability.

Integrated Product Policy 2019

Integrated Product Policy 2019
Author: Preben Kristensen
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
Total Pages: 77
Release: 2020-01-14
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9289364947
GET BOOK

Download Integrated Product Policy 2019 Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The European Commission adopted in January 2015 an Action Plan for the Circular Economy. The plan suggest measures for how the market may significantly contribute to a circular economy. Now the methodological fundament needed has been finally established and it remain for the new Commission to demonstrate how the toolbox may be applied in a coherent and effective European product policy. The toolbox is the result of nearly 15 years of work and comprises harmonized guidelines for lifecycle based assessment of environmental footprints within specific product categories (PEFCR) and organization sectors (OEFSR) and also guidelines for 3rd party verification, benchmarking and communication. The guidelines have been tested in more than 20 pilot projects representing more than 50% of the respective (European) supply chains regarding product categories like dairy, shoes and textiles. The guidelines build upon lifecycle based Product and Organizational Environmental Footprint (PEF and OEF) standards developed by the Commission and published in Off. Jour. in 2013. By the use of the developed toolbox it is now for the first time possible uniquely at the European market to define and credible communicate what is “a green product” and what is not. The paper discusses possible measures for how to apply the toolbox in establishing and implementing a coherent new European product policy with objectives to significantly reduce especially products environmental (and climate) footprints in the future

How Central Authorities Can Support Ecodesign

How Central Authorities Can Support Ecodesign
Author: Bernan
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
Total Pages: 87
Release: 2008
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9289317337
GET BOOK

Download How Central Authorities Can Support Ecodesign Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Eco-design presents an integrated approach to develop products with as small environmental footprint as possible taking a life-cycle perspective. However, still, the vast majority of manufacturing companies do not use eco-design, or at least they do not use it in their marketing. Taking a company perspective, this report tries to understand why. Its ambition has been to identify and explain the incentives companies have for implementing eco-design practices in their product development. Ultimately, the report is trying to answer the question on how authorities can use these incentives to better support eco-design. The findings presented in the report are based on interviews with Nordic manufacturing companies, experts in the field and a literature survey. Conclusions are followed by general recommendations on how to stimulate the use of eco-design in companies.

ECODESIGN -- The Competitive Advantage

ECODESIGN -- The Competitive Advantage
Author: Wolfgang Wimmer
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2010-09-11
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9048191270
GET BOOK

Download ECODESIGN -- The Competitive Advantage Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Dealing with environmental issues should no longer be considered simply as a cost of doing business. Effective environmental improvements to a company’s products and services can be turned into business opportunities. This book was written with the express purpose of helping managers of companies, in particular of Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), to better deal with environmental challenges and address customer requirements, all in order to turn their environmental inve- ments into competitive market advantages. Several examples are provided throughout the book, but also warning signs (Alert Boxes). These “Alerts” are posted to help managers avoid typical traps when working with environmental considerations in business processes. The authors have many years of experience in the various aspects of impleme- ing Ecodesign. This experience includes working in industry for many years; le- ing the environmental departments in a multinational company; managing research projects in eco-product development; Life Cycle Assessment; and national and international environmental communication and marketing. This book is the latest in a series. The 2002 “Ecodesign Pilot” introduced a tool and software to help design more environmentally compatible products. It was directed specifically at designers. The 2004 book, “Ecodesign Implementation”, was written to help project managers optimize product development processes from an environmental perspective.

Potential Ecodesign Requirements for Textiles and Furniture

Potential Ecodesign Requirements for Textiles and Furniture
Author: Bjørn Bauer
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
Total Pages: 58
Release: 2018-06-20
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9289356324
GET BOOK

Download Potential Ecodesign Requirements for Textiles and Furniture Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

A large part of the lifecycle environmental impacts of a product are determined at the design stage, why The EU Eco design Directive’s potential for application to non-energy related themes has come under the spotlight in recent years with Nordic countries at the forefront. In this report potential eco design requirements that can be drawn up for non-energy-related products are in focus. Textiles are here used as an example, and a light application of the approach has subsequently been applied to the furniture sector. Clothing and home textiles were chosen due to significant wastage in the value chain due to fast fashion, dropping quality and relatively low repair and reuse rates. The project was initiated and financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers and led by its Working Group for Sustainable Consumption and Production. A separate Policy Brief (ANP2018:739) is also published.

ECODESIGN Pilot

ECODESIGN Pilot
Author: Wolfgang Wimmer
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 107
Release: 2005-12-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0306483939
GET BOOK

Download ECODESIGN Pilot Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Up to now, environmental policies have relied mainly on rules, regulations, and prohibitions. This kind of environmental policy -- a clearly reactive approach – has shown a mounting array of limitations. There is a clear need to seek new solutions, in particular those involving the initiative of firms themselves. Since the mid-1980’s, a new approach called “environmental management” has been established in research and practical applications; it is designed to systematically integrate environmental considerations into company activities. If, for instance, environmental objectives are being formulated for an enterprise, it is imperative to identify, highlight, and analyze real and significant environmental impacts of the firm's activities and to take appropriate measures to improve its performance. Controlling and implementing these environmental objectives requires suitable structures, procedures, and tools. Many motivated companies have approached the issue of environmental management through incorporating methods such “continual improvement processes” and “Life Cycle Assessment” into the various operational activities of the enterprise. Some firms initiated such transformation processes at their own production sites because it was easier to identify their own environmental impacts than to analyze, let alone mitigate, the effects of upstream and downstream processes. However, in many cases these processes are decisive factors in the overall environmental performance of a product. It has become clear that product design can influence these processes to a great extent.

ECODESIGN Implementation

ECODESIGN Implementation
Author: Wolfgang Wimmer
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 150
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1402030711
GET BOOK

Download ECODESIGN Implementation Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Stakeholders such as environmental directives and customer demands for reducing environmental impacts of a product require innovative and environmentally improved products. Therefore a systematic approach and effective methods and tools are needed in the early phase of product development. The basic elements for optimized process management in the design department are described in this book. The book provides twelve easy to follow steps for implementing ECODESIGN in a company. It gives clear advice how to integrate environmental considerations into product design and development, and combines ECODESIGN with Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Communication. Chapters on Product modeling, Life Cycle Assessment, ECODESIGN tasks, Product Improvement and Environmental Communication use the previously developed ECODESIGN PILOT (www.ecodesign.at/pilot) and show its application to a real product example. The book comes with two web tools: one is the ECODESIGN PILOT, used to find measures to environmentally improve a product within a short time. The other is the ECODESIGN PILOT's Assistant (www.ecodesign.at/assist): an expert system, which helps to find the right improvement strategy for a product. Audience: This book will be of interest to environmental and sustainability managers, engineers in research and product development, to designers, environmental experts, and consultants, as well as to students working in this field.