Design Guidelines Developed from Environmental Assessments: A Design Tool for Resource-Efficient Products

Abstract

The circular economy provides a potential solution to the take–make–dispose model of resource use that currently characterizes the economy. Guidelines for the circular economy often consist of prioritized lists of measures to achieve resource efficiency. However, for the purpose of designing products, such general prioritizations of measures are less useful. Instead, the tool developed in this study is based on learnings from numerous life cycle assessments and provides design recommendations for the improved resource efficiency of products based on product characteristics. The tool includes measures over the whole lifecycle of different products that lead to improved resource efficiency. The tool also demonstrates how different product types, such as different varieties of durable and consumable products, can become more resource-efficient and when trade-offs occur over the lifecycle of a product. The tool was tested in a design case where its usefulness and usability were evaluated using a comparative life cycle assessment and a questionnaire. The evaluation shows the tool is informative and provides design suggestions that lead to improved resource efficiency. The tool is considered usable and could be implemented in design practice.

Design of Consumables in a Resource-Efficient Economy—A Literature Review

“…Reduced resource use in production and associated reduced waste generation is recommended on a general level, e.g., by Wimmer et al, 2004 [37] and Vezzoli, 2018 [32]. More specifically, this can be accomplished through designing the product for minimal material waste in production [9], especially in processes such as sawing, turning, and punching [35].…”

“…Consumables are a group of products that have a short lifespan and can be categorized into three main groups. Dissipative products are those that are consumed in such a manner that they are not intact as physical objects after use and hence are not available for material recycling [9]. Examples include food, fuels, and cleaning agents.…”

“…These products still exist as distinct objects after use. However, they usually become contaminated during use, and, in some cases, unhygienic [9]. Examples include packaging, single-use articles, and hygiene products.…”

“…Examples include packaging, single-use articles, and hygiene products. Short-lived components in durable products have a relatively short lifespan compared to the entire product and must be replaced several times during the product's lifetime [9]. The function of these products deteriorates at a faster pace than the remainder of the durable product.…”

A preliminary environmental analysis for a sustainable pyrolysis process of Acacia tortilis encroacher bush.

“…The method uses the mass balance from a ChemCAD simulation of the intended process to predict the environmental impact, using a set of defined standards. Conventionally, pLCAs are the most popular and accurate assessment methods that can be done flexibly for different definitions of system boundaries, especially within a process (Willskytt & Brambila-Macias, 2020). They usually require a detailed analysis of every impact source in the process, entailing a commitment of much time and resources.…”