Product Design for the Environment: A Life Cycle Approach
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Summary
In recent years the increased awareness of environmental issues has led to the development of new approaches to product design, known as Design for Environment and Life Cycle Design. Although still considered emerging and in some cases radical, their principles will become, by necessity, the wave of the future in design. A thorough exploration of the subject, Product Design for the Environment: A Life Cycle Approach presents key concepts, basic design frameworks and techniques, and practical applications. It identifies effective methods and tools for product design, stressing the environmental performance of products over their whole life cycle.
After introducing the concepts of Sustainable Development, the authors discuss Industrial Ecology and Design for Environment as defined in the literature. They present the life cycle theory and approach, explore how to apply it, and define its main techniques. The book then covers the main premises of product design and development, delineating how to effectively integrate environmental aspects in modern product design. The authors pay particular attention to environmental strategies that can aid the achievement of the requisites of eco-efficiency in various phases of the product life cycle. They go on to explore how these strategies are closely related to the functional performance of the product and its components, and, therefore, to some aspects of conventional engineering design. The book also introduces phenomena of performance deterioration, together with principles of design for component durability, and methods for the assessment of residual life.
Finally, the book defines entirely new methods and tools in relation to strategic issues of Life Cycle Design. Each theme provides an introduction to the problems and original proposals based on the authors’ experience. The authors then discuss the implementation of these new concepts in design practice, differentiating between levels of intervention and demonstrating their use and effectiveness in specific case studies. The book not only presents evidence of the potential of the approach and methods proposed, but also analyzes some of the problems involved in developing eco-compatible products in the company context.
Table of Contents
FROM SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO DESIGN FOR ENVIRONMENT
Sustainable Development
Industrial Ecology
Design in the Context of the Environmental Question
Design for Environment
Concepts, Tools and Approaches to the Environmental Question: Overview
Standards and Regulations Oriented Towards Environmental Quality of Products
Summary
References
PART I - LIFE CYCLE APPROACH
LIFE CYCLE APPROACH AND THE PRODUCT-SYSTEM CONCEPT AND MODELING
Life Cycle Concept and Theory
Life Cycle and the Product-System Concept
Product-System and Environmental Impact
Life Cycle Modeling
Product Life Cycle: Reference Model
Summary
References
LIFE CYCLE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT
Life Cycle Approach in Product Design
Life Cycle Design Oriented toward Environmental Performance of Products
Life Cycle Management
Summary
References
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Environmental Analysis and Evaluation of the Life Cycle
Premises, Properties and Framework of Life Cycle Assessment
Fields of Application and Limitations of Life Cycle Assessment
Overview of Practical Approaches and Tools for Life Cycle Assessment
Summary
References
LIFE CYCLE COST ANALYSIS
Cost Analysis and the Life Cycle Approach
Product Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Evolution of Models for Product Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Reference Standards and Codes of Practice
Summary
References
INTEGRATED ECONOMIC-ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE LIFE CYCLE
Life Cycle Cost Analysis and Environmental Aspects
Environmental Costs and Environmental Accounting
Integration Between LCCA and LCA
Other Approaches to Economic-Environmental Analysis: Eco-Cost Models
Summary
References
PART II - METHODOLOGICAL STATEMENT
PRODUCT DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Product Design and Development
Product Design
Methodological Evolution in Product Design
Summary
References
INTEGRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS IN PRODUCT DESIGN
Orientation toward Environmental Aspects in the Design Process
Environmental Strategies for the Life Cycle Approach
Tools and Techniques for Environmental Requirements of the Life Cycle
Integration in Product Development: Proposed Framework
Toward an International Standard: The ISO/TR 14062 Technical Report
Summary
References
LIFE CYCLE ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR PRODUCT DESIGN
Strategies for Improving Resources Exploitation and Determinant Factors
Strategies for Extension of Useful Life and Design Considerations
Strategies for Recovery at End-of-Life and Design Considerations
Product Modularity as a Key Concept for the Application of Environmental Strategies
Summary
References
ENGINEERING METHODS FOR PRODUCT DURATION DESIGN AND EVALUATION
Durability of Products and Components
Fatigue of Materials
Damage
Thermography and the Risitano Method
Summary
References
PART III - METHODS, TOOLS, AND CASE STUDIES
PRODUCT CONSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM DEFINITION BASED ON OPTIMAL LIFE CYCLE STRATEGIES
Aims and Approach
Method and Tools for Analysis and Design
Optimal Life Cycle Strategy Evaluation Tool
Case Study: System Analysis and Redesign of a Household Refrigerator
Final Remarks
Summary
References
ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MATERIALS AND OPTIMAL CHOICE
Materials Selection and Environmental Properties
Environmental Characterization of Materials and Processes
Summary of Selection Method
Analysis of Production Feasibility
Analysis of Performance
Life Cycle Indicators
Analysis of Results and Optimal Choice
Case Study: Selection of Material for an Automobile Brake Disk
Acknowledgements
Summary
References
DESIGN FOR DISASSEMBLY AND DISTRIBUTION OF DISASSEMBLY DEPTH
Design for Disassembly and Disassembly Level
Distribution of Disassembly Depth
Objectives and Approach to the Problem
Method Statement
Evaluation of Disassembly Depth
Efficiency of Ease of Disassembly Distribution
Case Study: Electromechanical System
Summary
References
OPTIMAL DISASSEMBLY PLANNING
Disassembly Planning
Objectives and Approach to the Problem
Common Structure of the Proposed Tools
Development of the First Tool: Goals of Servicing
Development of the Second Tool: Goals of Recovery
Simulations and Analysis of Results
Summary
References
PRODUCT RECOVERY CYCLES PLANNING AND COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF RECOVERY
Approach to the Recovery Problem
Method for Recovery Cycles Planning
Calculation Models for Recovery Cycles Planning
Case Study: Analysis and Optimization of Heat Exchanger Constructional Systems
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Recovery Cycles
Acknowledgements
Summary
References
METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK AND ANALYSIS MODELS FOR SIMULATION OF PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE
Simulation and the Life Cycle Approach
Approach to the Problem and Methodological Framework
Product Model and Analysis Tools
Definition of Objective Functions
Simulation and Analysis of Results
Summary
References
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