Actions for integrating environmental aspects into product development

Abstract

The paper is based on twenty-eight interviews in four Swedish companies – three of which consider themselves as the best practitioners in Evironmentally Conscious Design (ECD) and one that has recently begun to integrate environmental features into product development (referred to as the non-practice company). Based on earlier research, several important factors for a successful change in product development were investigated. The need to integrate environmental concerns into the non-practice company's product development is described, along with problems arising from the implementation of ECD and the solutions adopted by the best-practice companies. Lastly, six ways of integrating environmental aspects are identified in the areas management, individual behaviour, resources, formal product development procedures, support tools, and competence development.