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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. 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.
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    8. Mariale Moreno & Carolina De los Rios & Zoe Rowe & Fiona Charnley, 2016. "A Conceptual Framework for Circular Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-15, September.
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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. 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.
    3. Siri Willskytt, 2021. "Design of Consumables in a Resource-Efficient Economy—A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-26, January.

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