The document outlines the redesign of a wooden chair aimed at improving sustainability and functionality for educational environments. Key features include the use of recyclable materials like aluminum and reclaimed polypropylene, alongside recommendations for reducing energy consumption in production and simplifying manufacturing processes. Despite the benefits of cheaper, recyclable materials and lower energy use, the new design is heavier and requires new production equipment.

1. Wooden Chair
redesign

3. Current Chair Specifications

4. Chair Functions
● Functional for school environment
● Back strength of 68 kg, 150 lbs
● Seat strength of 102 kg, 225 lbs
● Comfortable
● Minimum lifetime of 10 years
● Quiet to move

5. EcoDesign Pilot Results
● Raw Materials:
○ Select the right materials
○ Raw material and disposal intensive
○ Materials not recyclable, but renewable
● Manufacture:
○ Reduce energy consumption in production process
○ Move toward energy efficient production
○ Optimize design for less energy use

6. EcoDesign Assistant Results
Recommendations:
● Reduce energy consumption and avoid waste in
production process
● Optimize types and amount of process materials
● Recycling of materials
● Improve disassembly

7. Redesign Targets
● Maintain quality and comfort for consumer
● Reduce number of materials
● Simplify the manufacturing process
● Simplify the recycling process

8. New Design

9. Materials Involved
● Frame: Aluminium
● Seat: Reclaimed Polypropylene

10. Benefits of Materials
Aluminum:
● 40% post-consumer and industrial waste
● Uses 17x less energy during production
● 100% Recyclable
● Product life around 150 years
Polypropylene:
● Tough and flexible; good fatigue resistance
● Can be reused easily, sometimes through curbside programs

11. Disassembling

12. Alternative Energy
● Costly to change factory
to harvest alternative
energy
● Consider lobbying

13. EcoDesign Pilot Results:
NeW Design
● Raw Materials:
○ Material is no longer renewable
○ Completely recyclable
○ Parts are easily separated
● Manufacture:
○ More energy efficient manufacturing equipment
○ Regional material use

14. Environmental Communication
● Recycling Rate
● How to properly recycle product
● Ecolabels
● Proper marketing

15. ISO Labeling
● ISO 14021: Self-labeled as “environmentally
friendly” or sustainable. Requires product to be
recyclable
● ISO 14024: Required transparency in material
selection and product function; eco product labels

16. product labels
Recyclable Made with
Polypropylene
Aluminium
Material

17. Recycling Program
● Return chair for discount on new products
● Allows for easy recycling
● Reduces supply cost

18. Results of redesign
Cons
● New design is
heavier
● Must purchase new
equipment
● Not renewable
● Non-traditional look

19. Results of redesign
● Material is less
expensive and easily
recyclable
● Cheaper to produce
● Less energy required
to manufacture
● Simplified production
process
Pros

20. References
http://dxypsav0ep89.cloudfront.net/client/emeco/dynamic/articles/1006-navy-poster_3836.pdf
http://www.iso.org/iso/environmental-labelling.pdf
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Resin-identification-code-5-PP.svg/393px-Resin-
identification-code-5-PP.svg.png