A Practical Method for Quantifying Eco‐efficiency Using Eco‐design Support Tools

Abstract

Summary Eco‐efficiency at the product level is defined as product value per unit of environmental impact. In this paper we present a method for quantifying the eco‐efficiency using quality function deployment (QFD) and life‐cycle impact assessment (LCIA). These well‐known tools are widely used in the manufacturing industry. QFD, which is one of the methods used in product development based on consumer preferences, is introduced to calculate the product value. An index of the product value is calculated as the weighted average of improvement rates of quality characteristics. The importance of customer requirements, derived from the QFD matrix, is applied. Environmental impacts throughout a product life cycle are calculated based on an LCIA method widely used in Japan. By applying the LCIA method of endpoint type, the endpoint damage caused by various life‐cycle inventories is calculated. Willingness to pay is applied to integrate it into a single index. Eco‐design support tools, namely, the life‐cycle planning (LCP) tool and the life‐cycle assessment (LCA) tool, have already been developed. Using these tools, data required for calculation of the eco‐efficiency of products can be collected. The product value is calculated based on QFD data stored in the LCP tool and the environmental impact is calculated using the LCA tool. Case studies of eco‐efficiency are adopted and the adequacy of this method is clarified. Several advantages of this method are characterized.

A methodology for assessing eco-efficiency in logistics networks

“…Kuosmanen and Kortelainen [2005] defines eco-efficiency as the ratio of total value added and a damage function, aggregating environmental pressures into a single damage score. Kobayashi et al [2005] uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to provide a single measure based on the radial projection of the decision making units (DMUs). These methodologies share two common characteristics.…”

Integrating Sustainability in Product Requirements

“…Kaebernick et al (2003) propose the ECQFD, in which environmental performance is introduced as a new VoC in the QFD, where the results are evaluated with a LCA. Kobayashi et al (2005) proposes using a simplified LCA endpoint analysis combined with a "willingness to pay analysis", i.e., considering human health, public assets, biodiversity and primary production capacity, to obtain an environmental impact driver. Another way to include environmental aspects is to use environmental aspects as VoC's.…”

A systematic review of environmentally conscious product design

“…Some techniques and LCA were merged together to increase their availability. For example, a quality function deployment (QFD) and life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) were combined for quantifying the eco-efficiency [7]. Thus, the requirements satisfaction degree could be evaluated during the ecological assessment process.…”