In process

The joint reflection of the participants of the working group Design of environmentally friendly products and services (ecodesign) will lead to the development of a complete tool in the form of a practical handbook (CD-ROM) to give support in adopting the ecodesign approach: from the education of every employee of the company to the presentation of specific methods, examples, stakeholders, and tools.

The tackled topics:

• the principal concepts of ecodesign (product life cycle)
• the notion of impacts
• ecodesign and external communication, ecolabel
• assistance in the internal and external reorganisation: education, communication
• purchasing
• to make the local authorities responsive to ecodesign
• ecodesign in the corporate strategies
• international environmental information service
• ecodesign of services
• functional economy (Product-Service Systems), supply chain management
• from ecodesign to Industrial Ecology.

Each subject will allow discussing the role and the responsibilities of the different authorities within the company. Beyond the objective of the technical improvement of products and services we will insist on the uniting aspect of the project within the company.

Experience feedback

The handbook points out examples of SMEs which have initiated an ecodesign process, puts the focus on methods, tools and players involved in this task and presents the general results.
Experience reports will enrich the publication.