Eco-design

One of the principal challenges of ecodesign is to reduce the environmental impact of products all along their life cycle. This includes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing natural resources such as water and raw materials, and limiting waste production.

To achieve these objectives, and in many cases the objective of carbon neutrality, companies must re-think the manufacturing of their products in a holistic manner. This can be done by integrating environmental criteria from the beginning of the process (such as using recycled materials), modular design to promote end-of-life product recycling, and researching sustainable delivery and transport options. This not only reduces the environmental footprint of a product, but also enhances its performance and efficiency while reducing production and transport costs.

How can my company integrate a global ecodesign strategy? How can the life cycle management be rethought in a holistic and global manner?

Consumers are more and more conscious of a product’s environmental impact and wish to choose brands that adopt sustainable practices. Numerous examples show that integration of eco-design to a company’s development strategy offers many competitive advantages. Indeed, by proposing environmentally respectful products, companies can stand out amongst their competition, attract and retain a new clientele that is growing more sensitive to environmental impacts, and develop their market share.

How can I make ecodesign a competitive advantage in my market? How can we promote our new commitments to our clients?

Ecodesign has become a major challenge for companies who must conform to environmental requirements. Indeed, a growing number of countries are imposing a strict regulation to limit the environmental impacts of products. For example, the European Union implemented the Eco-Design Directive which requires producers to minimize a product’s ecological impact along its life cycle. Companies no longer have the choice and will have to adapt to these requirements to stay competitive and avoid fines.

What are the regulatory requirements in place in my market? How can we keep up with new environmental and societal regulations?

The challenge of cost reduction is an important aspect of embarking in eco-design. Designing sustainable products can lead to significant savings on production costs, packaging and transport, and in doing so can increase a company’s competitiveness.

For example, developing an ecodesign policy for packaging (by integrating new light, biosourced and/or recycled material) can lead to significant transport savings. By using light material and more efficiency manufacturing processes, it is possible to simultaneously reduce ones carbon footprint while saving money.

What paths exist for cost optimization during a product’s life cycle? How can a more green design approach promote savings for my company?

An ecological design approach is a vector of innovation for companies simply because it allows them to rethink their manner of production and the entire life cycle of their products and services. The newly identified, more sustainable levers can be even more innovated than those that already exist!

For example, the American company Patagonia, who specializes in sports and hobbies clothing, has seen success in innovation thanks to this new approach. In 2011, Patagonia launched an advertising campaign called “Don’t buy this jacket” in order to encourage consumers to buy less and to choose more sustainable products. In parallel, the company developed a technology called “Encapsil Down”, which allows the replacement of traditional duck down by a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly synthetic material. Through this innovative move, Patagonia could reduce its ecological impact while offering products of superior quality to its customers.

How can eco-conception stimulate innovation and creativity? How can I involve my teams in eco-design thinking?