carlo vezzoli politecnico di milano . INDACO dpt. . DIS . faculty of design . Italy Learning Network on Sustainability course System Design for Sustainability subject 2. Introduction to product Life Cicle Design (LCD) learning resource 2.1 (Design) environmental requirements

CONTENTS Damaging environmental effects How to Associate the environmental effects to a product LCA: Life cycle assessment

PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE DESIGN, LCD (in brief) . ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS . “LIFE CYCLE” AND “FUNCTIONAL” APPROACH . CRITERIA (+ GUIDELINES AND EXAMPLES): . resources minimisation . low impact resources selection . product life optimisation . material life extension . design for disassembly

PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE DESIGN, LCD (in brief)

. ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

. “LIFE CYCLE” AND “FUNCTIONAL” APPROACH

. CRITERIA (+ GUIDELINES AND EXAMPLES):

. resources minimisation

. low impact resources selection

. product life optimisation

. material life extension

. design for disassembly

(DAMAGING) ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS EACH ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT IS BASED ON A SUBSTANCE’S EXCHANGE ( IMPACT ) BETWEEN THE NATURE/ENVIRONMENT AND THE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION SYSTEM input : substances’ extraction from the environment output : substances’ emission in the environment

EACH ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT IS BASED ON A SUBSTANCE’S EXCHANGE ( IMPACT ) BETWEEN THE NATURE/ENVIRONMENT AND THE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION SYSTEM

INPUT AND ITS (DAMAGING) EFFECTS RESOURCES EXHAUSTION ALTERATION OF THE ECOSYSTEMS’ BALANCE (damaging outputs of extractive processes)

RESOURCES EXHAUSTION

ALTERATION OF THE ECOSYSTEMS’ BALANCE

(damaging outputs of extractive processes)

OUTPUT AND ITS (DAMAGING) EFFECTS global warming (greenhouse effect) ozone layer depletion eutrophication acidification smog toxicity wastes ...

global warming (greenhouse effect)

ozone layer depletion

eutrophication

acidification

smog

toxicity

wastes

...

serra greenhouse effect

ozono ozone la yer deplation

eutrhophication

acidification

toxici ty

rifiuti wastes

HOW TO ASSOCIATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS TO A PRODUCT? CRITERIA: - PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE - FUNCTIONAL UNIT (evaluation method: LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT)

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF PRODUCT LCA: LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT a quantitative method to assess the environmental effects of the life cycle of a given product/service in relation to its functional units ISO 14040

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF PRODUCT

LCA: LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

a quantitative method to assess the environmental effects of the life cycle of a given product/service in relation to its functional units

ISO 14040

e.g. LCA upholstered seat (8 years life span) PRE-PROD. PRODUCTION DISTRIBUT . USE DISPOSAL

e.g. LCA refrigerator (10 years life span) PRE-PROD. PRODUCTION DISTRIBUT . USE DISPOSAL

e.g. LCA refrigerator (10 years life span)