Title: Market forces and the need to design for the environment

Authors: Jack Jeswiet, Michael Hauschild

Addresses: Chair of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada. ' Danish Technical University, Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Management, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, UK

Abstract: This paper has three sections: Part I, Green House Gas emissions and environmental impacts as driven by the market; Part II, Design for Environment (DfE), designing to reduce environmental impacts with a set of rules for DfE; and Part III, toxic substances to be avoided in design. All three parts must be addressed by the EcoDesigner in any design situation. The ecodesigner cannot control market forces, as discussed in Part I, but must be cognisant of them. Parts II and III give the ecodesigner rules, which can be applied in many design situations, thereby helping to reduce impacts due to products made for markets.

Keywords: markets; carbon emissions; design for environment; DfE; toxicity; sustainable manufacturing; greenhouse gases; environmental impact; toxic substances; market forces; product design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSM.2008.019226

International Journal of Sustainable Manufacturing, 2008 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.41 - 57

Published online: 02 Jul 2008 *

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