Design for environment: An implementation framework

Abstract

AbstractThis article considers issues currently facing companies with respect to translating environmental policy into an effective Design for Environment (DFE) program that can help a company move closer to a sustainable development operating framework. Many DFE single issues have been discussed, and conceptual frameworks have been published. This article provides an implementation framework, providing development ideas and an understanding of the sequence of events that can help in developing an effective DFE program. It is not intended to be prescriptive or absolute.An understanding of the organizational interface of a DFE program will help in transitioning from non‐DFE design practices into an effective DFE framework. An understanding of the drivers for improving environmental performance and how they relate to specific changes to operations/services/products to improve competitive position is important in developing a DFE program that produces real and demonstrable environmental performance gains. Finally, an understanding of the underlying core environmental considerations that a DFE program should address along with an understanding of the environmental improvement needs of the specific product line that is targeted ensures a selection of the appropriate environmental performance metrics and a consistency and relevance of design improvements developed within the DFE program. These elements help in achieving a company's environmental performance goals on the basis of its environmental positioning.Combining the product environmental performance metrics into a meaningful evaluation system requires that they be weighted according to the improvement priorities of the organization, as there is currently no universally accepted weighting scheme. Of the many available valuation methodologies, the Analytic Hierarchy Process is offered as an example.