Working from the Front End Designing out waste Jon Ward and Diana Gibson, Business and Industry Team

Sustainability Victoria  Formed from the Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria and EcoRecycle Victoria, as well as taking on an element of the State’s water program, in October 2005  Mission to work with Victorians to reduce our everyday environmental impacts and to utilize our resources more efficiently.  Target: A Victoria that prospers while reducing its ecological footprint.  Budget ~ $ 40 million  120 staff

Towards Zero Waste Strategy

Defining DfE “… the development of products by applying environmental criteria aimed at the reduction of environmental impacts along all stages of the product life cycle.” Conny Bakker, Netherlands 1995 Lock-in positive environmental features eg. secondary materials, Design for Disassembly, Recycling and/or Remanufacturing, water and energy efficiency Lock-out negative environmental features eg. avoid specification of toxic or hazardous substances

It is estimated that 70% of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage Design SupplyManufacture Distribution End Of Life

Basic DfE Strategies Efficient design Keep the material and resource inputs to a minimum. Do more with less. Cyclic design Design to enable materials to be continuously cycled through natural or industrial systems. Safe design Avoid toxic and hazardous substances and processes. Keep human health in mind as well as ecological impacts. Communications design Ensure product and packaging related communications are informative and Accurate. Encourage responsible consumer behaviour. The Total Beauty of Sustainable Products (2001) Edwin Datschefski

Drivers Reduced production costs for client by using materials efficiently, reducing assembly time, etc. Market growth in countries and regions where consumerism is environmentally oriented. The ability to supply products into markets where regulatory requirements demand high levels of environmental performance. The ability to exploit EcoDesign and environmental drivers as a catalyst for overall product innovation. Enhanced company image by demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and innovation. Less waste. Higher resource efficiencies.

Premium Cask Yalumba Wine Company

Design for Disassembly & Recycling BMW Group

Why DfE doesn’t normally happen Its up to the designer to introduce DfE Strategies to product design and development, unless client is already enlightened. Seen as low priority among competing design pressures. No time or mandate for DfE within constraints of product development brief Incorporating DfE involves looking at options and trade offs ? Designers need easy reminders and easy methods for integrating DfE strategies into product development. Others involved in the design process need to be educated about DfE.

Practice Note Quick Guide QuickStart Series EcoRecycle DfE Program

Rethinking Bikelights: Stephen Mushin

Packaging Systems - Hafele From this….. To this……

Blackwell IXL. Backwell IXL is a privately owned Australian Company, with 200 employees. The company was established in Geelong in 1858, repairing wood stoves and gold mining equipment, progressing in the 1900’s to making stoves. The company currently produces a range of appliance products, heaters and its famous top seller, ‘IXL Tastic’ range, plus automotive stampings and foundry products.

The Victorian Design Industry Directly employs 67,000 Generates $ 4.8 Billion spending on design services Total State economic contribution $ 6.8 Billion 12% of revenue is from exported services, slightly less than manufacturing exports. Touches 44,000 firms.

Retailer Consumer End of life Manager Supplier Manufacturer Production and Consumption Cycle Brand Owner

Retailer Designer Consumer End of life Manager Supplier Manufacturer Production and Consumption Cycle Brand Owner Cleaner Production Eco-choice Eco-design