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> Life cycle assessment
My company designs and offers a range of products and services. How can we decide which products to redesign next year to make them greener?
Can you help me sort out the difference between the MBDC Cradle to Cradle(SM) Protocol, the Natural Step, and Okala?
I’m responsible for new product development in a small company in the housewares product industry. We design our products, but all are manufactured in Asia. We’re getting pressure from retailer partners to reduce packaging content and all potentially hazardous substances. We’re also considering developing new products that we can position as having environmental benefits. Can the Okala methodology help us integrate these various issues?
I am a proponent of extending product lifetimes, but it is sometimes hard to justify to clients. Can you give me some suggestions for helping clients understand the value of this approach?
Which system is better for measuring a product's environmental performance – ‘process flows’ or ‘environmental impacts’?
I’ve heard the term ‘biomimicry’ used in conjunction with ecodesign. Can you expand on how it relates to product design teams?
Can you name some inspiring examples of ecodesign?
Some companies use carbon footprinting while others use life cycle assessment (LCA). What are the differences between the two approaches and what situations are best suited for each impact estimation method?
I’m concerned that the process of life cycle assessment will be too complex and time-consuming for my small organization to take on. Is LCA an “all or nothing” proposition?
When it comes to ecodesign there appears to be many third party choices for environmental performance verification and environmental impact measurement. Which systems or groups are most appropriate for a new product development team?
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Okala Experts
Louise St. Pierre
Associate Professor of Industrial Design at Emily Carr University
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Philip White
Assistant Professor of Industrial Design at Arizona State University, Ecodesign Chair of IDSA
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Steve Belletire
Associate professor of Industrial Design at Southern Illinois University
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categories
Certifications & labeling
Designers
Electronics
Life cycle assessment
Manufacturing
Marketing
Materials & processes
Packaging
Product service systems
Products
Software & systems
Standards & regulations
Strategies
Supply chain
Sustainability paradox
Sustainable Europe
Teamwork
Assistant Professor of Industrial Design at Arizona State University, Ecodesign Chair of IDSA
Feed: Ask the Experts