Title: Framework for eco-innovative design with application in low-voltage electric appliance industry

Authors: Stelian Brad; Emilia Brad; Bogdan Mocan

Addresses: Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, C-tin Daicoviciu 15 street, 400020 Cluj-Napoca, Romania. ' Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, C-tin Daicoviciu 15 street, 400020 Cluj-Napoca, Romania. ' Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, C-tin Daicoviciu 15 street, 400020 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Abstract: Following several years of incremental improvements in green-design, nowadays, step changes have to be considered for developing competitive environmentally friendly products. However, many companies still see environmental issues as economical burden because eco-innovations usually require new capital investments as well as changes in product design and the related production processes and after-sale services. In this respect, a methodology for guiding decision-makers towards a superior balance between quality, cost and environmental issues in product design is introduced in this paper. A case study on a product from the family of electric appliances reveals the effectiveness of the methodology.

Keywords: concurrent eco-performance planning; eco-design; eco-innovation; structured design; green design; low-voltage electric appliances; environmentally friendly products; product design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2011.043513

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2011 Vol.14 No.5/6, pp.379 - 396

Received: 15 Sep 2010
Accepted: 16 Aug 2011
Published online: 29 Jan 2015 *

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