Wales has a devolved administration within the UK and has a statutory obligation to promote sustainable development. Historically, Wales relied on manufacturing and mineral industries but now the service sector and lower volume production are more common. The Ecodesign Centre Wales aims to encourage ecodesign and sustainable production and consumption in Wales. It was established in 2006 by the Welsh Assembly Government to build capabilities for effective ecodesign among Welsh businesses, especially SMEs. Recommendations to support this include identifying focus areas for intervention, creating knowledge sharing platforms, building support for ecodesign in education and training, and facilitating cross-policy learning.

2. Wales
• devolved administration of UK (1998)
• statutory obligation to promote sustainable
development
• historically, manufacturing and mineral based
industries
• currently, service sector and lower volume, value
added production

3. Ecodesign Centre Wales
“We aim to encourage ecodesign and sustainable
production and consumption in Wales”
Environment Strategy for Wales 2026, Welsh Assembly Government, 2006
our role
build capacity and capabilities so that effective
ecodesign can happen in Wales
established in September 2006
funded by Welsh Assembly Government

7. general observations - SMEs
• need inspiration to engage with ecodesign
– non-standard drivers
• expect local knowledge from Business Support Organisations /
intermediaries
• benefit from long-term relationships (not dependency)
– negotiating risks, building capacity, trust, confidence
• benefit from partnerships
– industry as service provider
• listen to appropriate language
• require flexible financial support

8. recommendations for future
• identify focus areas for intervention – from an innovation systems
perspective
• create platforms for the open sharing of knowledge and experiences
• build capacity in existing business support infrastructure
• embed ecodesign and sustainability in higher/further, professional
training, etc
• build capacity in the indigenous design sector
• establishing a culture of policy learning
• facilitate horizontalisation across policy domains

9. thank you
questions?
contact
frank@edcw.org
www.edcw.org