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

Author

Listed:
  • Siri Willskytt

    (Department of Technology Management and Economics, Division of Environmental Systems Analysis, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden)

  • Sergio A. Brambila-Macias

    (Department of Management and Engineering, Division of Environmental Technology and Management, Linköping University, SE-58183 Linköping, Sweden)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Siri Willskytt & Sergio A. Brambila-Macias, 2020. "Design Guidelines Developed from Environmental Assessments: A Design Tool for Resource-Efficient Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-38, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:12:p:4953-:d:372874
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Louise Laumann Kjaer & Daniela C. A. Pigosso & Monia Niero & Nynne Marie Bech & Tim C. McAloone, 2019. "Product/Service‐Systems for a Circular Economy: The Route to Decoupling Economic Growth from Resource Consumption?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 22-35, February.
    2. Thomas Wastling & Fiona Charnley & Mariale Moreno, 2018. "Design for Circular Behaviour: Considering Users in a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Kriwet, A. & Zussman, E. & Seliger, G., 1995. "Systematic integration of design-for-recycling into product design," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 15-22, March.
    4. Allwood, Julian M. & Ashby, Michael F. & Gutowski, Timothy G. & Worrell, Ernst, 2011. "Material efficiency: A white paper," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 362-381.
    5. Fenna Blomsma & Geraldine Brennan, 2017. "The Emergence of Circular Economy: A New Framing Around Prolonging Resource Productivity," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 603-614, June.
    6. Ming-Chuan Chiu & Gul E. Okudan Kremer, 2011. "Investigation of the applicability of Design for X tools during design concept evolution: a literature review," International Journal of Product Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 13(2), pages 132-167.
    7. Marcel C. Hollander & Conny A. Bakker & Erik Jan Hultink, 2017. "Product Design in a Circular Economy: Development of a Typology of Key Concepts and Terms," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 517-525, June.
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    9. Anoop Desai & Anil Mital, 2006. "Design for maintenance: basic concepts and review of literature," International Journal of Product Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 3(1), pages 77-121.
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    Cited by:

    1. Julius Brinken & Sebastian Trojahn & Fabian Behrendt, 2022. "Sufficiency, Consistency, and Efficiency as a Base for Systemizing Sustainability Measures in Food Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Siri Willskytt, 2021. "Design of Consumables in a Resource-Efficient Economy—A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-26, January.
    3. Ihwan Ghazali & Salwa Hanim Abdul-Rashid & Siti Zawiah Md Dawal & Nurul Huda & Amir Husni Mohd Shariff & Safarudin Gazali Herawan & Fu Haw Ho & Novita Sakundarini, 2021. "Guidelines for Designing Green Products Considering Customers’ Cultural Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-27, January.

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