Ecodesign in the European electr(on)ics industry : an analysis of the current practices based on cases studies

Extensive research on ecodesign, mainly in the areas of strategy, methodology, and tools, has been carried out by research organizations and industrial companies in recent years with significant advancements achieved. However, the practical application of these tools and methods as well as their implementation, within the day-to-day decision making processes in product development, are still limited. In order to improve this situation, and to proliferate the practice of ecodesign in industry, 24 case studies of the European electr(on)ics industry have been analyzed and structured in order to provide practical ‘real-world’ examples and experiences. This work, which is a collaboration of several research institutes and 14 companies from the European electrical and electronics industry was carried out within the EU Thematic Network Ecolife from 1998 to 2001. The result, which has been published as a comprehensive internet guide, allows ecodesign non-specialists (e.g. product designers) to learn about this field and to stimulate their understanding and creativity. The Ecolife network highlighted a large number of diverse ecodesign case studies, from which the general conclusions on implementation in practice and obstacles can be drawn.