Eco Design: Definition, Examples, Principles (2024)

What is eco design? Does eco design follow any specific regulation? What examples of eco designedproducts and services are there? Let’s find out.

Eco Design: Definition, Examples, Principles (1)

Eco Design– A Simple Definition

Eco design is both a principle and an approach. It consists ofintegrating environmental protection criteria over a service or a product’slifecycle. The main goal of eco design isto anticipate and minimize negativeenvironmental impacts (of manufacturing, using and disposing of products). Simultaneously, eco design also keeps a product’s quality level according to its ideal usage.
The principles of eco designwhere formally published in 2002 and they can be found in ISO/TR14062.

  • Related:
    • Is Solar Energy Really Green And Sustainable?

The Eco Design Approach

Eco design is part of a global approach called “multi-step” and “multi-criteria”. This approach supports a product’s entire lifecycle in a circular economy perspective by saving and recycling at maximum natural resources. It has to do with considering specific criteria in different stages:
Successive stages:

  • Raw material extraction and supply
  • Manufacturing
  • Product distribution
  • Consumer use
  • End of life (recovery and recycling)

Main criteria taken into account:

  • Consumption of raw materials
  • Energy consumption
  • Releases in the natural environment and other pollutions
  • Climatic impacts
  • Impacts on biodiversity

Some goals and principles are specifically about:

  • Using fewer materials and resources for manufacturing products
  • Using materials and resources obtained with aminimum environmental impact
  • Producing the least waste and pollution possible
  • Reducing the ecological impacts of distribution
  • Making reusing and recycling easier by intelligent design that makes disassembly easy

Aneco design approach involves the organization that extracts materials as well as manufacturing. All the people and structures involved along the rest of aproduct’s lifecycle, such as retailers or consumers, are also included. And all the processes along a product’s value-chain are covered too.

Eco Design: Definition, Examples, Principles (2)
Before implementing an eco-design approach we first need to find out first which are the most environmentally relevant stages of a product’s lifecycle. Questions like “are the materials used biodegradable?” or “is the energy used for extraction renewable?” should be asked. Answering them will allow the identification of measures that need to be taken to effectively reduce the environmental impacts of the product under analysis.
From a more individual perspective, eco-design can also be used in designing homes. In this scenario, eco-design is mostly about using renewable building materials like bamboo or cork, buying second-hand furniture or using recycled fiber carpets. At the same time, eco-design at home also has to do with using energy efficiently. In this way, using double pained glass windows for better insulation and investing in solar panels to generate energy are also usual.

  • Related:
    • Ocean Protection: 8 Things You Can Do To Help Protect The Oceans
    • CO2 Emissions And GHG: Understanding The Basics About Who’s Polluting and How

Companies Using Eco-design As A CSR Approach

Eco Design: Definition, Examples, Principles (3)
Eco-design is also an integral part of acompany’s CSR strategy (Corporate Social Responsibility, see thedefinition of CSR). In order to reduce their impact on the environment, many companies are implementing eco-design approaches to offer greener products. Eco-design is also associated with biomimicry practices – a great design philosophy that is inspired by imitating nature.

Examples Of Eco-Design

  • Example Of Eco Design #1:
    • Malongo Ek’Oh Espresso Machine(2013EcoProduct Award for Sustainable Development): programmed anti-obsolescence design, modular, easy to repair, solid materials, European manufacturing, economical in electricity consumption, recyclable (75%) … Associated with coffee from fair trade, these machines offer services that are equivalent, or even superior, to those of competition
  • Example Of Eco Design #2:
    • CAMIF Conso’ localization service: the consumer can choose online the equipment item of his/her house (furniture, bedding …) according to the proximity of the place of production to his/her home. This allows the decrease of CO2 emissions at the delivery stage and is a good example of an aspect of the eco-design approach implemented by the manufacturer
  • Example Of Eco Design #3:
    • Adidas-Parley shoes and clothes were born out of a partnership between the sports company and the eco-awareness organization. They came up with a design-conscious solution to fight the plastic pollution problem and its impacts on the marine environment
  • Example Of Eco Design #4:
  • Example Of Eco Design #5:
    • Some of Lego’s elements (the famous bricks) are now made of plant-based plastics. They’re 98% polyethylene, made from sugar cane
  • Example Of Eco Design #6:
  • Example Of Eco Design #7:
    • LED bulbs don’t have mercury and use significantly less energy compared to CFL bulbs. Yet, they also have some downsides
  • Example Of Eco Design #8:
  • Example Of Eco Design #9:
    • Toothbrushes made out of bamboo are biodegradable and made from a tree that grows at an incredibly fast speed
  • ExampleOf Eco Design #10:
    • Sustainable cellphone cases made from recycled plastic or wood

Eco-design: Regulation

When it comes to the connection between eco-design and energy efficiency, theEuropean Directive 2009/125/CE established a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products. Among other considerations, it speaks about the minimum performance levels to place products on the market (in particular, household appliances). Nonetheless, there’ll a new regulation entering into force in April 2021 with policies more favorable to improve eco-design in the EU.
In addition, a product presented as eco designedmust be accompanied by the opportunity consumers to get accurate information on the elements that allow it to be considered eco-designed, such as:

  • A definition of eco-design in accordance with ISO / TR 14062 or Directive 2009/125 / EC
  • The details of what is eco-designed (product, component, packaging …) if this is not the case for all of the articles sold (packaging included)
  • The main environmental characteristics of the product or packaging
  • Qualitative and quantitative information on environmental impact reductions achieved due to the eco-design process
  • Related content:
    • How Sustainable Are Avocados, Really?
    • 5 Must-Do’s For Companies Wanting To Lead And Innovate?

Image credits to eco design on Shutterstock, eco design examples on Shutterstock, bamboo toothbrush on Shutterstock

Eco Design: Definition, Examples, Principles (2024)

FAQs

Eco Design: Definition, Examples, Principles? ›

Eco design is both a principle and an approach. It consists of integrating environmental protection criteria over a service or a product's lifecycle. The main goal of eco design is to anticipate and minimize negative environmental impacts (of manufacturing, using and disposing of products).

What is an example of an eco design? ›

Green message

There are examples of eco-design in all kinds of consumer goods, such as biodegradable furniture, recycled tableware, edible coffee cups and bamboo sunglasses or toothbrushes, as well as clothes and shoes made with plastic recovered from the ocean and ecological gold jewellery.

What is the principle of eco design? ›

'Eco-Design' is a term used as a catch-all concept of enabling design for environmental good in the Project, for “any form of design that minimises environmentally destructive impacts by integrating itself with living processes” (see Van der Ryn & Cowan 2013).

What is eco design pdf? ›

Eco-design is used as a tool in the manufacturing and services sectors for improving the. sustainability of products by integrating environmental aspects into the design stage, where. most of the product impacts are determined.

What is the meaning of Ecodesign? ›

Ecodesign involves designing or redesigning products, services, processes or systems to avoid or repair damage to the environment, society and the economy. Ecodesign is present all around us - in sustainable flooring, green energy heating systems, eco-friendly packaging and even recyclable products.

What is eco with example? ›

The prefix eco (often used with a hyphen) refers to ecology or to the environment: Because population is concentrated in urban settings, cities have large eco-footprints (ecological footprints). This product is eco-friendly (safe for the environment).

What are the basic concepts of ecodesign? ›

The eight strategies of Ecodesign

Optimise the function - Dematerialisation: Reduction of material. - Multifunctionality: enhancing functionalities as a product. - Product sharing: maximising the use of products. - Service rather than product (a service which replaces the use of a product).

What is the purpose of eco design? ›

Eco design is both a principle and an approach. It consists of integrating environmental protection criteria over a service or a product's lifecycle. The main goal of eco design is to anticipate and minimize negative environmental impacts (of manufacturing, using and disposing of products).

What are ecological design principles? ›

Seven principles of ecological design are advanced: (1) the need to meet the inherent needs of humans and their economy; (2) the requirement to sustain the integrity of the structure and function of both natural and managed ecosystems; (3) the appropriateness of emulating the inherent designs of nature in anthropogenic ...

What is the eco-design standard? ›

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which entered into force on 18 July 2024, is the cornerstone of the Commission's approach to more environmentally sustainable and circular products. Products and the way we use them can have a significant impact on the environment.

What is the eco-design strategy? ›

The main goal of Ecodesign is to minimize the environmental footprint throughout every phase of the product's lifecycle (lifecycle impact). Even if that means you are less efficient with the natural resources you use. However, Circular Design's aim is to be as resource-efficient as possible.

What is the ECO process in design? ›

Product designers use the engineering change order (ECO) or change order (CO) during the product development process to notify, seek approval, and implement their proposed changes. A key success metric is agility—how fast and how well is the change impact and time to industrialization assessed.

What is an example of eco design? ›

Example of eco-design

Cardboard is mainly used for small decorative furniture. Bamboo is often used for tableware and tableware. While recycled metals are used for example to create eco-lighting. However, the resources and applications are very varied and concern today all sectors having a design activity.

How does ecodesign work? ›

Ecodesign focuses on the planet aspect, minimizing products' environmental impacts. Ecodeisign has two siblings: Circular design and sustainable design. The circular design concept emphasizes “no-raw-material-extractions, no-waste” measures, aiming to keep materials in the economic loop.

What is the origin of eco design? ›

The term ecological design was coined in a 1996 book by Sim van der Ryn and Stewart Cowan, in which the authors argued for a seamless integration of human activities with natural processes to minimize destructive environmental impact.

What are some examples of environmental design? ›

Examples of Environmental Design

Their work covers a large span, including commercial, recreational, residential, and leisure. Examples of work environmental designers might provide include parks, courtyards, green roofs, garden centers, and public squares. Their work can actually be found in all walks of life.

What is an eco type with an example? ›

Ecotype is a group of organisms, normally a subdivision of a species, that is adapted to a specific environment. It is sometimes called ecospecies, describing a genetically distinct geographical variety, population or race within species, which is adapted to specific environmental conditions.

What is an example of an ecological study design? ›

An example of this study design is an investigation comparing bladder cancer mortality rates in cities with surface drinking water sources that contain chlorine by-products compared to rates in cities with ground drinking water sources that contain little or no chlorine by-products.

What is an example of eco innovation? ›

Some examples of eco innovation include the use of renewable energy such as via solar or wind power. People may often confuse eco innovation with sustainable or green innovation, even when the two terms aren't exactly the same.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kieth Sipes

Last Updated:

Views: 5893

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kieth Sipes

Birthday: 2001-04-14

Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

Phone: +9663362133320

Job: District Sales Analyst

Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.