Title: Product innovation through ecodesign

Authors: W. Wimmer, H. Ostad-Ahmad-Ghorabi, R. Pamminger, M. Huber

Addresses: ECODESIGN Company – Engineering and Management Consultancy GmbH, Neubaugasse 25/2/3, 1070 Vienna, Austria. ' Institute for Engineering Design, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria. ' Institute for Engineering Design, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria. ' Institute for Engineering Design, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria

Abstract: This paper shows how to develop eco-products using the Ecodesign approach. Three different product case studies show how to proceed in developing environmentally improved products. These case studies have been carried out in collaboration with industry and the identified product improvements have been realised in commercial products, which are now available on the market. The first case study is an alpine ski, the second is office equipment (Digital Pocket Memo (DPM)) and the third is a new Golf Swing Analyser. Obtaining green product concepts using the ECODESIGN Toolbox with and without having a reference product to start with are presented.

Keywords: ecodesign; sustainable product development; sustainable design; environmental improvement; product design; product innovation; green products; sustainability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSDES.2008.017058

International Journal of Sustainable Design, 2008 Vol.1 No.1, pp.75 - 92

Published online: 06 Feb 2008 *

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