Keywords
Sustainability
EcoDesign Checklist
Environmental profile
Product life cycle
improvement options are derived from the EcoDesign
Strategy Wheel (see EcoDesign Strategy Wheel in
What Is the EcoDesign Checklist?
of questions that provides support for the analysis
1 Define the product idea, product concept or existing
product that will be analysed.
this section).
The EcoDesign Checklist (see figure 2.6) is a checklist
Possible Procedure
2 Perform a needs analysis. Answer the questions from
When Can You Use the EcoDesign
Checklist?
the EcoDesign Checklist.
3 Systematically answer all the questions from the
of a products impact on the environment. The
The EcoDesign Checklist is best applied in the
EcoDesign Checklist provides relevant questions that
concept generation phase, when a clear idea of a
need to be asked when establishing environmental
product has been developed. You can also use it to
bottlenecks during the product life cycle. Thus, you
analyse existing products.
hand side of the EcoDesign Checklist. Describe the
can use the checklist to complement the MET matrix.
The EcoDesign Checklist is often used as a tool
options for improvement as clearly and precisely as
The checklist also suggests improvement options for
to avoid missing any environmental impact of the
possible.
areas where environmental problems are identified.
product, and in combination with the MET matrix
and the EcoDesign Strategy Wheel (see EcoDesign
The checklist starts with a needs analysis, which
cycle.
4 Provide options for improvement following the right-
5 Use the answers to the EcoDesign Checklist to fill out
the MET Matrix.
Strategy Wheel in this section)
consists of a series of questions concerning the
functioning of a product as a whole. The main
EcoDesign Checklist, per stage of the products life
Tips and Concerns
How to Use the EcoDesign Checklist
question asked in a needs analysis is to what extent
Starting Point
the product fulfils its main and auxiliary functions.
The starting point of the EcoDesign Checklist is
You should answer this question before focusing on
a product idea, a product concept, or an existing
the environmental bottlenecks in the various stages
product.
Make sure you answer all the questions in the
EcoDesign Checklist.
Think about questions you might want to ask yourself
that are not in the EcoDesign Checklist.
Use the EcoDesign Checklist together with the MET
Matrix and the EcoDesign Strategy Wheel (see
of the products life cycle. The needs analysis is
EcoDesign Strategy Wheel in this section).
followed by a set of questions, categorised per stage
Expected Outcome
of the product life cycle (production, distribution,
The expected outcome of using the EcoDesign
utilisation, recovery and disposal).
Checklist is a thorough and systematic understanding
References and Further Reading
of the products impact on the environment. This can
Brezet, H. and Hemel, van, C. (1997) EcoDesign: A Promising
The EcoDesign Checklist consists of two columns:
be used to fill out the MET Matrix, and to fill out the
Approach to Sustainable Production and Consumption,
the questions to be asked are given in the left-hand
EcoDesign Strategy Wheel.
France: UNEP.
columns of the tables. Some improvement options
are suggested in the right-hand columns. These
Remmerswaal, H. (2002) Milieugerichte Productontwikkeling,
Schoonhoven: Academic Service.
Delft Design Guide | Part 2 | Creating a Design Goal | EcoDesign Checklist
2.1
Delft Design Guide | Part 2 | Creating a Design Goal | EcoDesign Checklist
2.1
The EcoDesign Checklist
Needs Aanalysis
How does the product system actually fulfill
social needs?
What are the products main and auxiliary functions?
Does the product fulfil these functions effectively and
efficiently?
What user needs does the product currently meet?
Can the product functions be expanded or improved to
fulfil users needs better?
Will this need change over a period of time?
Can we anticipate this through (radical) product
innovation?
EcoDesign Strategy @ New Concept
Development
Dematerialisation
Shared use of the product
Integration of functions
Functional optimisation of product
(components)
Life cycle stage 3: Distribution
What problems can arise in the distribution of the
product to the customer?
What kind of transport packaging, bulk packaging, and
retail packaging are used (volume, weights, materials,
reusability)?
Which means of transport are used?
Is transport efficiently organised?
EcoDesign Strategy 2: Reduction
of material usage
Reduction in weight
Reduction in (transport) volume
EcoDesign Strategy 4: Optimisation
of the distribution system
Less/clean/reusable packaging
Energy-efficient transport mode
Energy-efficient logistics
Life cycle stage 4: Utilisation
Life cycle stage 1: Production and supply of materials and components
What problems arise in the production and supply of
materials and components?
How much, and what types of plastic and rubber are used?
How much, and what types of additives are used?
How much, and what types of metals are used?
How much, and what other types of materials (glass,
ceramics, etc.) are used?
How much, and which type of surface treatment is used?
What is the environmental profile of the components?
How much energy is required to transport the components
and materials?
EcoDesign Strategy 1: Selection
of low-impact materials
Clean materials
Renewable materials
Low energy content materials
Recycled materials
Recyclable materials
EcoDesign Strategy 2:
Reduction of material usage
Reduction in weight
Reduction in (transport) volume
What problems arise when using, operating, servicing
and repairing the product?
How much, and what type of energy is required, direct or
indirect?
How much, and what kind of consumables are needed?
What is the technical lifetime?
How much maintenance and repairs are needed?
What and how much auxiliary materials and energy are
required for operating, servicing and repair?
Can the product be disassembled by a layman?
Are those parts often requiring replacement detachable?
What is the aesthetic lifetime of the product?
EcoDesign Strategy 5: Reduction
of impact in the used stage
Low energy consumption
Clean energy source
Few consumables
Clean consumables
No wastage of energy or consumables
EcoDesign Strategy 6: Optimisation
of initial lifetime
Reliability and durability
Easy maintenance and repair
Modular product structure
Classic Design
Strong product-user relation
Life cycle stage 2: In-house production
What problems can arise in the production process in
your own company?
How many, and what types of production processes are
used? (including connections, surface treatments, printing
and labeling)
How much, and what types of auxiliary materials are
needed?
How high is the energy consumption?
How much waste is generated?
How many products dont meet the required quality norms?
fig. 2.4 The EcoDesign Checklist (Brezet, 1997)
EcoDesign Strategy 3: Optimisation
of production techniques
Alternative production techniques
Fewer production steps
Low/clean energy consumption
Less production waste
Few/clean production consumables
Life cycle stage 5: Recovery and disposal
What problems arise in the recovery and disposal
of the product?
How is the product currently disposed of?
Are components or materials being reused?
What components could be reused?
Can the components be reassembled without damage?
What materials are recyclable?
Are the materials identifiable
Can they be detached quickly?
Are any incompatible inks, surface treatments or
stickers used?
Are any hazardous components easily detachable?
Do problems occur while incinerating non-reusable
product parts?
EcoDesign Strategy 7: Optimisation
of the end-of-life system
Reuse of product (components)
Remanufacturing/refurbishing
Recycling of materials
Safe incineration
