C 5–2 Tips Checklist Product and Product Design

Introduction
Use the following suggestion tips as biodiversity-preserving tools:
C 5–2–1 Product Life Cycle Analysis
Take into account, when developing products as well as in your current product line, the required natural resource use that is necessary for the life cycle of the process (do not forget to include the customer use and disposal phases). This is especially relevant for electrical devices regarding their energy consumption and use of scarce raw materials.

Applicable / Feasible?

Check out ecological optimisation options based on life cycle analyses and incorporate these finding in product development. In the best case, comparing a number of design possibilities, provides you with an option that leaves the smallest ecological foot print behind.

Applicable / Feasible?

Design your products in a way that allows you to optimise your use of materials in production. Mind such aspects as recyclability of material selections and fabrication practices.

Applicable / Feasible?

Mind aspects such as energy and resource efficiency in the product production process (see also Detailed Checklist 7).

Applicable / Feasible?

C 5–2–2 Biodiversity Friendly Product Attributes
Analyse and optimize the use and disposal effects of your products (e.g. by increasing the amount of reusable components)

Applicable / Feasible?

Avoid "downcycling" (producing new products of lesser value). Use materials that allow for ease of sortiment. This reduces loss of material value contributing to sustainable use of resources.

Applicable / Feasible?

Regularly check the materials you use with regards to finding other alternative materials that are more biodiversity-friendly.

Applicable / Feasible?

Make sure you complete product planning team is coordinating their actions. From purchasing to making the final product, environmental issues should be considered in all stages.

Applicable / Feasible?

If your products use organic substances, consider the impact these products have on biodiversity. Alien species (e.g. feed or gardening products) could escape from the production site and negatively impact surrounding ecosystems. In the case that such organisms must be used, ensure necessary steps are taken to hinder release into the environment.

Applicable / Feasible?

C 5–2–3 Design resource-conserving packaging, labeling, etc.
Use packaging that comes from recycled or "upcycled" materials (from revalued rests from other products) or from renewable / regenerative materials.

Applicable / Feasible?

When using packaging materials that can grow back on their own, make sure they are sustainably harvested and are fair trade (See Detailed Checklist C 3 Supply Chains).

Applicable / Feasible?

Consider using by-products from other areas in your business when producing your packaging.

Applicable / Feasible?

Use biodegradable packaging (as well as adhesives and labels). When printing labels, be sure to use printing inks that are recyclable (e.g. free of heavy metals and solvents).

Applicable / Feasible?

Use adhesives that are fundamentally water soluble.

Applicable / Feasible?

Make sure your products and packaging are easily separated, this will ease the conversion process. When possible use as little packaging material as possible.

Applicable / Feasible?

C 5–2–4 Considering Biodiversity in Services
Take biodiversity aspects into consideration when developing service offers. Examples of such services that could have an impact on biological diversity are: tourism offers and other events (especially in sensitive areas), awarding loans for construction projects, trade, and large-scale transportation services that could enable species to travel long distances.

Applicable / Feasible?

Minimise the possible biodiversity impacts along the life cycle of your services as well as the various parts necessary for offering your services.

Applicable / Feasible?

Additional Tips
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Helpful Links and Organisations for Detailed Checklist C 5

www.cfsd.org.uk

On the webpage of the Centre for sustainable design from the design faculty of the British Surrey Institute of Art and Design, University College, you will find current publications, reports, discussion papers, links and many other downloads on sustainable design. You will also find the quarterly journal on Sustainabel Product Design together with tips about international events, workshops, training programmes, etc.  

www.d4s-de.org

The UNEP initiative “Design For Sustainability” (D4S) in cooperation with the Delft University of Technology is focussed on the possibilities and chances behind developing sustainable, innovative product designs for enterprises, projects and organizations involved developing and newly industrialised countries. Their website offers a number of project examples, working papers and general tips around the topic of eco-design.

www.ecodesign.at

The Austrian Ecodesign Information Platform has been run by the Eco Design Team from the Institute for Engineering Design at the Vienna University of Technology. The principle idea was to collect interesting information and links about ECODESIGN and make it accessible to a broad audience.

www.ebpg.bam.de

The Information platform of the Austrian Federal Ministry for the Economy, Family and Youth and the Austrian engineering agency have been providing comprehensive information on the July 2005 Energy Using Products Directive (2005/32/EC). The goal of this directive is to use politics to influence product designs towards more energy efficiency and resource preservation (In German only).

http://lct.jrc.ec.europa.eu

The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission supports developing methods, indicators, references and pilot studies in order to drive home the importance of "life cycle" thinking in businesses and public services. The website offers and information platform that provides the user with documents, project studies, links and even a forum on this topic.

www.netzwerk-ressourceneffizienz.de

The Network for Resource Efficiency packages together know-how and experience in resource reducing production, products and management. It serves as a mutual exchange forum for information and experience. They support in production, commerce, and consumption   the efficient use of resources for products and services. They also bring political actors, businesses, organizations, labor unions, scientists and corporations together and help to coordinate their activities (In German only).

www.umweltbundesamt.de

The German Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt) provides on their website much information about topics concerning ecodesign.  They also provide important information about European and German directives, regulations and laws on environmentally friendly design of energy using products.

www.wupperinst.org

The Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy researches and develops guidelines, strategies and instruments for sustainable development at a regional, national and international level.  
In their publications section  portal, they offer a variety of work packets - in particular business-oriented instruments on eco design and eco construction.  They also offer information on identifying technologies, products and strategies that have resource-efficient potential.

How the Checklists work

With the checklists' various fields of action you will be able to assess your company's situation.  For each field of action, there is a quick check along with multiple other detailed checklists.  Fill in the relevant checklists one after the other.  At the end you can print out and send or email us the completed questionnaire.

Note:

The entries are meant to aid you in your self-evaluation and will not be saved or used by us or any other third party organisation.

 

 

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