Sustainability
Extraction
Production
Legislative pressures and consumer awareness are driving businesses to develop sustainable product design strategies1
. End-
of-Life (EoL) processing and design for the environment will therefore be of increasing interest. Designers have been aware of production issues for many years. However, design for disassembly and EoL processing are not so well established or understood. There is a need for practical advice and information about the implications of design decisions and material choices.
This article explores the use of sustainable design standards in the product development process, from both an environmental and economic perspective, with a particular focus on BS 8887-1 (2006) ‘Design for Manufacture, Assembly, Disassembly and End-of-life processing (MADE)’.
To gain insights into the application of BS 8887-1, with a focus on sustainability, industry practitioners, who are active in new product development, were approached. More than 60 people with responsibility for design and development, including production, quality and drafting, were involved.
A case for less consumption During the conventional product life- cycle, materials move through a sequence of extraction, production, distribution, consumption and finally disposal. This is known as the ‘materials economy’ and is represented in figure 1. It is a linear system that cannot be supported indefinitely2
.
A company making high tech equipment commented: “If we can stop putting stuff into the ground it is better for everybody. It saves more minerals from being excavated and also stops any possible contamination from landfill sites. This is very important for future generations.” In the past 30 years, one-third of the planet’s resources have been consumed3
. Product designers should consider not only the production
and transformation processes, assembly and technical aspects of manufacture, but also the consumption of water, energy, the origins of raw materials, as well as the residues generated and their disposal4
.
An R&D manager responsible for new product development said: “In the research and development department there is a big motivation to be greener. I think scientists generally are aware of environmental issues, and most of them are supportive... If you can get through life consuming less, that has to be a good thing. Most scientists are logical enough to see the clear case that it is always better to use less if you can.”
Sustainable design refers to an approach that minimises environmental impacts, reduces production costs and gives
companies a competitive differential in the market. Currently, about 60% of products are no longer in use six months after they are purchased5
. Closed loop production,
as illustrated in figure 2, has obvious environmental benefits and can deliver significant cost savings. Such systems maintain the economic and consumer benefit of industry while minimising the requirement for virgin material and the disposal of waste.
A leading authority on civil engineering explained: “In the long term, sustainable design is vital... I have had the argument with manufacturers that sustainable design is going to cost more and therefore increase prices, which has led to a fear that they would lose their market. I have explained that ‘if everybody carries on the way you
17
Distribution
Consumption
Figure 1: Conventional production – adapted from Leonard (2005)2 Figure 2: Closed loop production – adapted from Leonard (2005)2
Disposal
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