JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #63 - March 2011 - 42

trend
corporate reluctance. The Pôle Eco-conception ("Eco- Design Hub") has carried out the Shared use, Franco-Quebec study: "Ecomulti-function products Services, renting design: what payback for the New ways of doing it! company?" ("L’éco-conception: Type/number of materials Reuse of product/components - Renewable, recycled, quels retours économique pour Refurbishment recyclable, non-renewable, l’entreprise ?") in collaboration Recycling materials non-hazardous, hazardous with various partners (CETIM, & components Materials selection IDP, ADEME) with a view End of life to overcoming this lack of environmental economic management tools and to supplying SMEs with economic arguments in this respect. The study focused on the environmental practices and economic returns for 30 SMEs that have featured ecodesign in their manufacturing approach for several years. Optimal life Rehability, durability Materials usage This study has shown that ecoEasy to maintain Appropriate amount design is a profitability and Easy to repair for function competitiveness factor for Upgradable Number of parts companies. The direct Classic design economic returns (increased revenue and/or lower costs) Distribution Product use linked to eco-design are Type and amount of Type and amount of energy usage encouraging. The companies packaging Use of refills &/or consumables Type of transport (e.g. water, paper, toner, disks, surveyed, with just a few Distances transported film, cofee cups) exceptions, have noted significant improvements in Fig.3: LiDS wheel(Brezet) their trading accounts. certain common misconceptions. This list is not exhaustive, and there are many Furthermore, there have also been major stage can therefore provide the opportunity tools the designer can use to enhance this intangible returns, in terms of improved to compare and contrast the environmental portfolio, such as eco-design guides, lists of corporate image, relations with reality of a product with the perception that desirable materials, or « strategy wheel » stakeholders and creative development. users and manufacturers have of it. (LiDS wheel of Hans Brezet), Fig.3. - Another factor motivating an ecoOnce the environmental impacts have been The issues design approach is the anticipation identified, several eco-design levers may be What are the factors motivating the of new regulations. The latest deployed in accordance with the defined adoption of eco-design procedures in the directives from the European Union strategy (differentiation, communication, company? are very clear when it comes to regulatory compliance, etc.): considering - Various scientific experts have pointed the origin of the raw materials and their out that one of the main drivers for Significant EU directives: composition; reducing the volume or developing an eco-design approach - ELV Directive: End-of-Life Vehicles weight of components and their packaging; within a company is the economic factor (2000/53/EC) - WEEE Directive: Waste Electrical and optimising the supply chain scenarios; (controlling costs and financial gains). Electronic Equipment (2002/96/EC) limiting energy consumption in the "Is eco-design profitable?" There - RoHS Directive: Restriction of Hazardous manufacturing processes and when using have not been many in-depth studies of Substances (2002/95/EC) the product; improving the product the cost effectiveness of an - EuP Directive: Energy-using Products (2005/32/EC) lifespan and/or reparability; or else eco-design approach. - 3R Directive: Reusability, Recyclability, designing the product with a view to This lack of information constitutes a Recoverability (2005/64/EC) dismantling for subsequent recycling. This major source of

42

jec composites magazine / No63 March 2011
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #63 - March 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #63 - March 2011
