Article: An exploratory study for the long-term integration of ecodesign in SMEs: the environmental Trojan horse strategy Journal: Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal (PIE) 2013 Vol.8 No.1/2 pp.67 - 91 Abstract: This paper aims to propose a new solution based on the progressive evolution of the environmental performance of the organisation considered by way of the design, deployment and enrichment of a 'classic' ecodesign tool. This is developed by a multi-functional team and acts as a learning vector within the company. This approach is called 'the environmental Trojan horse strategy' (ETHS) because the underlying strategy is to introduce an appropriate pretext that enables collaborative work (the ecodesign tool has to be co-designed) and to supply the organisation with the necessary skills to develop it further. This enables it to take into account many more environmental criteria and to integrate them better in the PDP. Applying the ETHS allows a company to progress along an integration trajectory from a partial ecodesign approach towards an eco-innovation approach. The proposed ETHS has been tested in a French SME for five years. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: An exploratory study for the long-term integration of ecodesign in SMEs: the environmental Trojan horse strategy

Authors: Tatiana Reyes; Dominique Millet

Addresses: Centre de Recherches et d'Etudes Interdisciplinaires sur le Développement Durable (CREIDD), Institut Charles Delaunay – CNRS FRE 2848, Université de technologie de Troyes, 12, rue Marie Curie B.P. 2060, 10010 Troyes Cedex, France ' LISMMA, EA n 2336, SUPMECA-Toulon, Quartier Mayol, Maison des Technologies, 83000 Toulon, France

Abstract: This paper aims to propose a new solution based on the progressive evolution of the environmental performance of the organisation considered by way of the design, deployment and enrichment of a 'classic' ecodesign tool. This is developed by a multi-functional team and acts as a learning vector within the company. This approach is called 'the environmental Trojan horse strategy' (ETHS) because the underlying strategy is to introduce an appropriate pretext that enables collaborative work (the ecodesign tool has to be co-designed) and to supply the organisation with the necessary skills to develop it further. This enables it to take into account many more environmental criteria and to integrate them better in the PDP. Applying the ETHS allows a company to progress along an integration trajectory from a partial ecodesign approach towards an eco-innovation approach. The proposed ETHS has been tested in a French SME for five years.

Keywords: ecodesign integration; learning; Trojan horse; strategy; industrial ecology; design process; ecodesign tools; green products; sustainable product development; environmental performance; collaborative work; product design; eco-innovation; France; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2013.055065

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2013 Vol.8 No.1/2, pp.67 - 91

Received: 21 Jun 2012
Accepted: 20 Feb 2013
Published online: 08 Apr 2015 *

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Title: An exploratory study for the long-term integration of ecodesign in SMEs: the environmental Trojan horse strategy

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