This document introduces the concepts of eco-design and circular economy. It describes eco-design as considering a product's environmental impact over its entire lifecycle from raw material extraction to disposal. The principles of eco-design include using fewer resources, reducing waste and pollution, optimizing product lifespan, and making products easier to reuse, repair, and recycle. Key decisions made during the design phase impact how resources are used throughout a product's life. Case studies demonstrate how eco-design has been applied to different product types.

1. Module 2
Unit 2.5 Eco-Design

2. Learning Objectives
The aim of this unit is to introduce participants to the concepts and principles of
eco-design and how this can be used to foster Circular Economy.
Once you have completed this unit you will be able to:
Learning
objectives
1. Describe the principles of eco-design,
2. Identify a product’s life cycle and how eco-design
can be implemented,
3. Describe strategies to make a product eco-
design friendly.
EQF Levels: This Content is mainly suitable for EQF level 5

3. Introduction
The trend today is to go green - We recycle our bottles and cans, buy fuel-efficient cars
and use energy-saving light bulbs in our homes.
But is there more we can do?
Proponents of eco-design would say YES - a lot more!
Eco-design not only considers the environmental consequences of a product's use, but
also its manufacture and disposal.
Eco-design means taking the environmental impact of a product or service into account,
over the whole of its lifecycle and in relation to various environmental aspects, while
maintaining its functionality. It involves designing or redesigning products, services,
processes or systems to avoid or repair damage to the environment, society and the
economy.

4. Why does design matter?
What the following video which gives some historical
insight to how we can approach design and product
development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jEj5cTJzZ0

5. Product Life Cycle Thinking
Products typically undergo the following stages throughout their life-cycle:
• Raw material extraction
• Product design
• Manufacturing & Assembly
• Use & Servicing
• Disposal/Recycling
But how does consideration of the product
life-cycle help in the creation of eco-design
solutions?
DECISIONS MADE DURING DESIGN OF A PRODUCT IMPACT ALL SUBSEQUENT
PHASES OF THE PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE.
For eco-design ask - Does the design ensure that the product meets its purpose
in the most energy and resource efficient way?

6. Principles of eco-design
• Ensuring that products use
fewer resources when used
by end customers
• Ensuring that products
cause less waste and
pollution when in use
• Optimising the function of
products and ensuring the
most suitable service life
• Reducing and optimising
product packaging and the
transport needed to
distribute products

7. Principles of eco-design
• Making reuse,repair,
remanufacturing, disassembly
and recycling easier
• Ensuring legal responsibilities
for goods, such as electrical and
electronic goods are met
• Reducing the environmental
impact of disposal

8. Principles of eco-design
• Ensuring that products use fewer
resources when used by end customers
• Ensuring that products cause less waste
and pollution when in use
• Optimising the function of products
and ensuring the most suitable service
life
• Reducing and optimising product
packaging and the transport needed to
distribute products

9. Exercise
• Think of a product that you use everyday
• In light of circular economy principles, what design changes can be
made to this product in order to improve:
(a) its manufacturing
(b) its consumption and use
(c) its recycling?

10. Selection of raw materials
Select Raw Materials From Sustainable
Sources
• Look for raw materials that are eco-
friendly. Ask - What is the carbon footprint
(carbon emissions) of the materials used,
their extraction, processing and transport?
Select In-house/local components & raw
materials
• Importing raw materials and components
from overseas significantly contributes to a
product’s environmental impact through
the emission of harmful greenhouse gases
during transportation.

11. Material selection
Design using a minimum of material
• Often you can reduce the amount of
material by critically looking at
dimensions, required strength and
production techniques.
Use recycled materials
• Do not only make your product
recyclable, but use recycled materials
as much as possible.
Source: http://inhabitat.com/designer-rabih-hage-uses-leftover-
corian-to-create-fantastic-furniture/allpieces-jpg/

12. Supply chain decisions
Design decisions can also be influenced
through the supply chain. For example:
• Selection of local suppliers to avoid
pollution caused from the transportation
of materials
• Selection of suppliers which produce with
the lowest carbon footprint
• Asking suppliers for more recycled
content in the materials purchased.

13. Design for Recyclability
Consider the recyclability of the materials from
which the product or packaging is made
• Minimize the different types of materials
used
• If possible, move to a single material
product
• Carefully consider assembly techniques -
for example, moving from screws to snap
clips reduces the amount of time it takes
to dismantle the product and they could
also be made from the same material

14. Design for Transport efficiency
• Can the packaging be designed so that more
products fit onto one pallet?
• Can it be designed to interlock or stack in a
different way to allow more products to stack
together?
• Can shelf-ready packaging be introduced,
thus eliminating the need for secondary and
transit packaging and therefore fitting more
products together in one pack?
Source: http://www.opala.org/solid_waste/learning_center/Educational_Resources_Tools.html

15. Design for Concentration
• If a product contains water e.g. cleaning
products, drinks, can it be concentrated so
the consumer can mix it with water at its
destination?
• This results in smaller and cheaper
packaging, lower transport and storage costs
and sometimes a longer lifespan of the
product
Source: http://www.living-low-carb.de/images/product_images/popup_images/1250_0.jpg

16. Design for Longevity
• Can the product can be designed to last
longer?
• E.g. a kitchen knife design with 2 blades, so
that, once the user cannot re-sharpen the
first blade the blade can be swapped and the
blunt one sent back to the manufacturer to
be professionally sharpened.

17. Design for energy efficiency
Products that use energy are starting to be
covered by new regulations (under the
European Energy Using Products Directive)
which set out eco-design requirements, mostly
to do with energy efficiency in use.
Therefore, manufacturers are starting to have
to document and reduce the energy used in
standby, on and powered-down modes.
Although energy efficiency does not contribute
directly to circular economy since it doesn’t
involve materials directly, it involves the use of
fossil fuels in the production of energy – hence
it is indirectly relevant.
Source: https://www.goedkope-keuring.be/

18. Eco-design Case Studies
Check out the following videos for examples of how eco-
design can shape products.
• Eco-helmet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3zC-tCILE4
• Furniture design
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijJcd4YaZPs
• A Business approach to eco-design
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEZkaLvxldk

19. Summary
• Eco-design means taking the environmental impact of a product/service into
account, over all its lifecycle.
• Decisions made during design of a product impact all phases of the product life-
cycle, up to and including disposal/recycling.
• This module presented various principles and strategies to assist in the creation
of eco-design solutions.
Key Links
• Adopting and applying eco-design techniques
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652608002515
• Information on Green Skills
http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/files/5524_en.pdf
• Eco-Design in a Business Network
http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/uploads/Resources/Conference/CADMC_presentations/murto-
person-cambridge.pdf