Eco-design Approach Research Articles

Silver Nanoparticles for Water Pollution Monitoring and Treatments: Ecosafety Challenge and Cellulose-Based Hybrids Solution.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used as engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in many advanced nanotechnologies, due to their versatile, easy and cheap preparations combined with peculiar chemical-physical properties. Their increased production and integration in environmental applications including water treatment raise concerns for their impact on humans and the environment. An eco-design strategy that makes it possible to combine the best material performances with no risk for the natural ecosystems and living beings has been recently proposed. This review envisages potential hybrid solutions of AgNPs for water pollution monitoring and remediation to satisfy their successful, environmentally safe (ecosafe) application. Being extremely efficient in pollutants sensing and degradation, their ecosafe application can be achieved in combination with polymeric-based materials, especially with cellulose, by following an eco-design approach. In fact, (AgNPs)–cellulose hybrids have the double advantage of being easily produced using recycled material, with low costs and possible reuse, and of being ecosafe, if properly designed. An updated view of the use and prospects of these advanced hybrids AgNP-based materials is provided, which will surely speed their environmental application with consequent significant economic and environmental impact.

Assessing Sunscreen Lifecycle to Minimize Environmental Risk Posed by Nanoparticulate UV-Filters – A Review for Safer-by-Design Products

Sunscreens are of emerging concern regarding environmental effect. After leaving the skin either through bathing or washing, the ingredients contained in the product formulation can be released into rivers, lakes, seashores, and/or sewage treatment plants. Nanomaterials used as UV-filters are of particular concern in this context as they may have a negative effect on these systems. To assess the risks posed, the exposure and hazard of nanoparticulate UV-filters must be considered through the entire lifecycle of the sunscreen product. This includes not only usage, but also manufacturing and disposal at the end of life of the product, as some nanomaterials may be released into the environment at each stage. This includes also developing relevant approaches that take into account realistic scenarios of environmental release and fate. Nanoparticulate UV-filters typically consist of a mineral nanoparticle core (TiO2 or ZnO) coated with surface layers aimed at optimizing the dispersion in the formulation and at supressing any photo-sensibility. This coating plays a key role in the associated risk since it affects the nanoparticle surface properties, which control both fate and hazard. At present, knowledge gaps remain regarding the safety of nanomaterials used in sunscreen, as very few studies have focused on real sunscreen filters and formulations throughout their lifecycle so far. A literature review is proposed here from the design of nanoparticulate UV-filters and formulations, to the release, fate, and effect in the different compartments encountered along the product lifecycle. The resulting state of the art highlights knowledge gaps and will likely help regulators, manufacturers, and consumers choose appropriate guidance. By considering each development stage of the sunscreen, from the choice of the UV-filter(s) and its (their) integration into a cosmetic formulation to the knowledge of the risk involved in this choice all along the product lifecycle, an eco-design approach can be achieved where release or toxicity are reduced. Sustainability can thus be accounted for, during the design process, by making the appropriate choices (in advance) that help minimize or prevent the environmental impact of the sunscreen.

An approach for implementing ecodesign at early research stage: A case study of bacterial cellulose production

Previous ecodesign approaches for the laboratory (lab) stage of product development have focused on studying one production route at a time and varying process parameters or equipment. Comparisons of alternative production routes have not been investigated, nor have been proposed specific assessments for each technology readiness level (TRL) at the lab stage of product development. This paper presents and improve an ecodesign approach for TRLs at the lab stage. This approach integrates life cycle assessment with process modeling at the industrial scale. It was applied to assess alternative bacterial cellulose (BC) production routes at the lab scale (hydrolyzed soybean molasses - HSM, diluted soybean molasses - DSM, supplemented cashew juice - SCJ, and synthetic medium Hestrin & Schramm - HS). Our results show that the HSM route exhibited better environmental performance than the other three routes. When compared to the HS route at lab scale, the HSM route reduced in 100%, in climate change, acidification and freshwater eutrophication, and in 95% the impact in marine eutrophication and freshwater ecotoxicity. Among the investigated changes in the HSM route, chemical exchange at purification phase proved possible and reduced the impact on water scarcity in 50%, at lab scale. When the HSM route was compared to the HS, at modeled industrial scale, there were no significant differences in their environmental impacts. The results from this case study allowed us to optimize the proposed ecodesign approach. We recommend that life cycle assessment (LCA) be performed at lab scale to determine the technological route with the least impact, identify critical inputs (disregarding water and energy), investigate changes that reduce environmental impacts without affecting product quality, and characterize liquid effluents. At the modeled industrial scale, the assessment of the selected route should focus on the identification of critical phases for improving water and energy efficiencies.

Closed loop recycling of WEEE plastics: a case study for payment terminals

Abstract The closed-loop recycling of PolyCarbonate/Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (PC/ASA) housings from post-consumer payment terminals that are subject to a take-back scheme is presented. The technical feasibility is evaluated by means of mechanical and rheological testing. Compared to virgin PC/ASA, a loss in impact strength is found to be the main bottleneck. The blending with PC/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (PC/ABS) demonstrated good compatibility. This strengthens the robustness of closed-loop recycling due to the presence of this plastic in the same product. Quality improvement in compounding, blending with virgin plastic and eco-design approaches are seen as viable strategies to overcome quality and material losses.

Analyzing the environmental sustainability of packaging for household appliances: A test case

Nowadays, packaging represents around 35% of the total municipal solid waste yearly generated. This paper aims at analyzing a methodology to support the redesign of a sustainable packaging for the household appliances. The approach considers the environmental impacts related to geometrical parameters and materials. In particular, here the test case is focused on the packaging for kitchen hoods. Through the proposed method, based on the use of virtual prototyping tools, an eco-design approach has been identified to analyze the main environmental impacts. A packaging redesign has been performed to reduce waste and increase the use of the components from the perspective of the circular economy. This study has been performed in accordance with the international standards ISO 14040/14044, by using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) from Cradle to Gate. The integration with a CAD tool has been considered to redefine the packaging shape, materials, and internal composition, keeping the same standard requirements (performance, security, etc.). LCA software SimaPro 8.5 has been used to carry out the life cycle assessment, and ReCiPe method has been chosen for the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). A comparison has been proposed between a traditional packaging for household appliances and a new solution which integrates an interior part in molded pulp. The results show the possibility to cut down the environmental impacts of approximately 15% by a redesign with a molded pulp interior and avoiding EPS structures.

Optimization approach for attractive and sustainable products

Abstract Reducing environmental impacts from the earliest stages of products/ systems design is a major challenge. We suggest a paradigm shift, which involves a hybrid ecodesign approach based on the modelling of systems by constraints based on the Constraint Satisfaction Problem formalism with more traditional environmental assessment methods to decide which design choices to be made. This approach has been applied to characterize a product architecture of a vacuum cleaner focusing on the durability of the products. Then attractiveness of the product has been optimized on 3 functions leading to a functional negotiation.

Eco-design and Eco-materials: An interactive and collaborative approach

Sustainability and recycling have come to be keywords in many consumer products. However, the creative industry still lacks design tools suitable for sustainable development. While different recycled and sidestream materials are available in industry, the relation between sustainability and the use of new composites is still difficult to be evaluated and integrated into the early design phases for the creative area. This paper deals with a collaborative Eco-design approach to support these tasks and overcome traditional limits using an interactive approach. The interaction regards the collaboration between several stake-holders such as designers, manufacturers and suppliers throughout the engineering activities and value stream. The framework of an Eco-design tool is proposed to evaluate secondary raw materials, processes, user's feedback, and best practices for the selection of green and recycled materials.

Using LCA in a participatory eco-design approach in agriculture: the example of vineyard management

The paper shows how three tools based on life cycle assessment (LCA) were created for an eco-design approach in viticulture, how these tools contributed to the reduction of environmental impacts of technical management routes (TMR), and how they have been used in real-life conditions during workshops organized with two different groups of winegrowers and extension officers in this purpose. This paper is among the first to explore the use of LCA in participatory approaches in agriculture. The eco-design approach contains two main phases: (i) suggestion of more eco-efficient solutions by the participants based on their understanding of LCA results of a TMR and (ii) eco-design of the TMR based on initial operations from the case study and alternative operations generated during the previous phase. Three challenges have been identified to use LCA in this approach: (i) making LCA results understandable for participants, (ii) enabling easy manipulation of LCI data and modularity of LCA results, and (iii) need for live LCA results during the collective design process. Three tools have been created to fulfil these objectives: (i) a specific format to display LCA results during workshops, (ii) a “serious game” to build new TMRs, and (iii) a simplified calculation tool to evaluate TMRs. Four out of the five case studies explored with these tools were actually improved at the end of the participatory eco-design approach. The specific format used to display LCA results helped identifying the most impactful operations within initial TMRs. The “serious game” stimulated discussions between participants about alternative operations. Representing unit operations with cards was successful to engage participants in the eco-design process. Finally, eco-design parameters available in the “live” LCA tool allowed participants to improve consistency of unit operations with reality and to discuss how to optimize these parameters in order to both reduce environmental impacts and meet the (agronomic, economic, and organizational) requirements of winegrowers. Several limits concerning the use of weighting and single score and the system boundaries are highlighted. The created tools made it possible to guide discussions towards improving the most impactful practices while allowing other practice changes to be integrated. The proposed approach and the challenges identified for the creation of the tools seem relevant for transposition to other agricultural production sectors. However, while the annual and plot/field scale is interesting for engaging farmers in the production process, larger temporal and geographic scales can help to better integrate certain decision criteria.

Eco-design of microbial electrochemical technologies for the production of waste-based succinic acid thanks to a life cycle assessment

To face up abiotic resource depletion and other environmental issues as climate change due to usual fossil-based chemical production technologies, some alternative strategies have been developed using renewable resources. To produce such bio-based chemicals, renewable raw materials such as cereal crops or vegetables are currently used. To promote an environmental responsible practice, organic waste could be a relevant alternative to these dedicated crops. BIORARE technology is an innovative concept based on coupling an anaerobic digestion plant processing with bioelectrosynthesis in order to produce a range of chemicals from organic waste. Even if bioelectrosynthesis processes are not yet technologically mature; it is appropriate to consider the credibility of this emerging technology in environmental terms thanks to an eco-design approach.This eco-design approach is based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. A LCA of biosuccinic acid production thanks to BIORARE technology has been carried out and has been combined with sensitivity analysis. The aim of this strategy is to ensure that sensitive parameters are identified and adjusted in order to make the technology the more eco-friendly possible whilst maintaining good economy efficiency. The present study describes the identification and optimisation of key parameters of the BIORARE technology applied for succinic acid production. These key parameters and their range of variation are chosen according to a realistic strategy allowing the control of the BIORARE technology on an industrial scale.The results show that the current density applied during the bioelectrosynthesis and the hydrolysis yield during the pre-treatment of the waste stream are key variables in the optimisation between production efficiency and the environmental footprint. The environmental efficiency of the process was studied by applying the eco-efficiency ratio. When the production of biosuccinic acid using the BIORARE technology was compared to a reference scenario, better overall eco-efficiency was shown despite some environmental penalties. In parallel, when the same study was performed for bioethanol production a low efficiency was revealed without environmental penalties.

A design methodology for the virtual energy labelling of cooking ovens

Nowadays, the increasing of global climate change and warming is leading governments, consumers, and firms towards a low-carbon economy. A lot of research shows that about 75% of the environmental impacts related to energy-related products is due to the use phase. Therefore, energy-related products, such as household appliances, are responsible for the consumption and depletion of natural resources. The eco-design of household appliances is a necessary approach to analyze and reduce the environmental impacts related to these products, considering materials, efficiency, and energy consumptions. In Europe, as well in China and America, the eco-design is becoming an Integrated Product Policy to support the Energy Labelling of several energy-related and consuming products. This paper deals with a design methodology to support the eco-design of cooking ovens by the simulation of the product performance. Two simulation cases have been analyzed: the energy consumption, which is provided by EU regulations No 66/2014 and No 65/2014 and the baking test. Even if regulations only provide the energy consumption test, the baking test is necessary to analyze the functional quality of the product. Therefore, two levels of simulations are necessary to complete the eco-design approach of cooking ovens. The results show that the proposed methodological approach can reduce the time-to-market and enhance the design optimization from the early design phases.

An eco-design approach for an innovative production process of low molar mass dextran

An approach for early-stage ecodesign of an enzyme based process was developed by coupling process modeling, Life Cycle Assessment and flowsheet design, to evaluate the real advantages of the direct synthesis of low molar mass dextrans from sucrose.

Editorial

Editorial

An Ecodesign approach for the lightweight engineering of cast iron parts

Lightweight engineering is a current topic in mechanical industry. The mass reduction is a common design objective to reduce product cost and environmental impacts. Virtual prototyping tools are widely applied to study new lightened solutions and check the compliance with regulations and standards. However, an integrated approach, involving simulations and life-cycle analysis, is necessary to support design optimization and decision-making. The scope of this study concerns the definition of an Ecodesign approach to support the lightweight engineering of cast iron parts through the redesign of the product shape. In particular, this paper deals with the optimization of a ductile cast iron manhole. The test case shows a redesign method which considers structural analysis with environmental impacts. The structural analysis has been evaluated using a finite element method tool. In particular, the simulation results have been compared and validated with physical tests. The environmental analysis is based on the methodology provided by the standardized ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006. The proposed LCA study considers the phases of manufacturing and transport related to one ductile iron product. The described manufacturing phase is related to a Chinese foundry which produces roughly 12,000 tons of ductile cast-iron castings. The results show the possibility to achieve about 20% of mass reduction for one casting. Considering such mass decreasing, the related reduction in terms of carbon emission is about 7%. Summarizing, this paper shows a design approach to integrate the structural improvements with the reduction of the environmental impacts related to a lighter weight casting.

Life cycle assessment of combined bioheat and biopower production: An eco-design approach

Life cycle assessment (LCA) can be conducted in coordination with a process simulation and used as an eco-design (green design) tool by quantifying the relations between eco-design parameters and environmental impact categories. The purpose of this article is to minimize environmental life cycle impacts of combined bioheat and biopower (CBHBP) production at its design stage, and thereby ensure sustainable CBHBP production. In this study, the aim is to conduct an LCA study in coordination with a process simulation and introduce an eco-design approach to determine the environmental sustainability of a combustion-based in situ CBHBP plant based on a simulated case study. Eco-design approach in this study enabled to quantify the effect of changes in feedstock moisture content, excess air ratio, and furnace temperature on the selected LCA results (based on the contribution analysis performed) for the simulated CBHBP case study. Feedstock supply chain is the stage most affected by increases in moisture content due to the consequent higher transportation requirements. For example, increasing moisture content from 30% to 50% causes about an 18% increase in global warming (GW). Excess air ratio and furnace temperature affected the importance of CBHBP plant operation mostly due to nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission increases. As an example, the higher increases in eutrophication (ETR) (∼56%) and acidification (ACD) (∼17%) are observed between the excess air ratios of 1.2 and 1.5. In addition, with increasing furnace temperature, high increases occur in mainly ETR and then ACD. For instance, an increase from 900 to 1000○C increases ETR ∼78%; an increase from 1100 to 1200○C increases ACD ∼38%. The methodology proposed here can be applied to any system for a better environmental performance. The study ultimately incorporates a biorefinery concept intended to advance the building of a bio-based (low carbon) economy.

Student team integrating aspects of sustainability in practical design education

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the first experiences (activities, attitudes and inclinations) of an undergraduate student team with eco-design activities.Design/methodology/approachUndergraduate students of an industrial design course were invited to participate in the design project. The activities of students were carried out in the class titled in Japanese “Sogo Project” (Overall Project). The project is experimental learning based on pedagogical case studies that students propose practical designs with a sustainable approach.FindingsAccording to the activities and attitudes of the student team, they showed interest in focusing on sustainable consumption and consequently leant towards a socio-cultural rather than a technological eco-design approach in their works. The barriers to design education for sustainable design were found, and the student team expressed that the available support tool during their design process was complex. They also expressed that the tool was not compatible with their academic skills and background.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper has limited participants, resources, time and contextual scale. Few Japanese educators are skilled in eco-design, and eco-design modules are also poorly integrated into undergraduate and graduate industrial-design courses at Japanese universities.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to an initial discussion in the field of Japanese industrial-design education regarding the principles of and barriers to design education for sustainability.

Ecodesign of cosmetic formulae: methodology and application.

This article describes an easy-to-use ecodesign methodology developed and applied since 2014 by the L'Oréal Group to improve the sustainable performance of its new products without any compromise on their cosmetic efficacy. Cosmetic products, after being used, are often discharged into the sewers and the aquatic compartment. This discharge is considered as dispersive and continuous. A consistent progress in reducing the environmental impact of cosmetic products can be achieved through focusing upon three strategic indicators: biodegradability, grey water footprint adapted for ecodesign (GWFE) and a global indicator, complementary to these two endpoints. Biodegradability represents the key process in the removal of organic ingredients from the environment. GWFE is defined herein as the theoretical volume of natural freshwater required to dilute a cosmetic formula after being used by the consumer, down to a concentration without any foreseeable toxic effects upon aquatic species. Finally, the complementary indicator highlights a possible alert on formula ingredients due to an unfavourable environmental profile based on hazard properties: for example Global Harmonization System/Classification, Labelling and Packaging (GHS/CLP) H410 classification or potential very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) classification. The ecodesign of a new cosmetic product can be a challenge as the cosmetic properties and quality of this new product should at least match the benchmark reference. As shown in the case studies described herein, new methodologies have been developed to maximize the biodegradability of cosmetic formulae, to minimize their GWFE and to limit the use of ingredients that present an unfavourable environmental profile, while reaching the highest standards in terms of cosmetic efficacy. By applying these methodologies, highly biodegradable products (≥ 95% based on ingredient composition) have been developed and marketed, with a low GWFE. This new ecodesign approach shows that embedding sustainability in developing new cosmetic products can also open up new innovative opportunities.

An innovative eco-design approach based on integration of LCA, CAD∖CAE and optimization tools, and its implementation perspectives

Abstract This study aims to develop an innovative eco-design approach by integrating modules of LCA, CAD∖CAE and optimization to effectively include environmental considerations in product design. A life cycle modeling approach based on feature mapping scheme between product, operation and inventory has been employed to address the discrepancy in the principles of the utilized methodological approaches of LCA and CAD/CAE and enable data transformation between CAD/CAE and LCA models. In addition, by the feature-based life cycle modeling, product and process design parameters are then correlated to environmental impact proxy with explicit relationships, allowing designers to keep track of and optimize design changes that taking effect on both environmental and functional performance. Then, an integrated eco-design model consisted of a CAD-based geometric modeling module, a CAE-based functional performance analysis module, a feature-LCA-based eco-assessment module, and an eco-optimization module has been developed by Isight to realize automated procedures of low-environmental impact design. The proposed eco-design approach is expected to contribute to development of tools for efficient and practicable LCA during design and computer-aided eco-optimization with a complete view of the product life cycle.

Role of hydrogen tanks in the life cycle assessment of fuel cell-based auxiliary power units

In the framework of the European project SSH2S, a solid-state hydrogen storage tank - fuel cell system was demonstrated as Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) for a light duty vehicle. In this work, we have assessed the environmental impacts and the costs of the system developed. Following an eco-design approach, we have identified the processes mostly contributing to them and we have suggested possible improvements. By performing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), we found that, when the electricity consumption for hydrogen gas compression is included into the analysis, a solid-state hydrogen storage tank has similar greenhouse gas emissions and primary energy demand than those of type III and IV tanks. However, the resources depletion is higher for the solid-state system, even though the inclusions of the end of life of the APU and the recycling of the materials may result in different conclusions. The costs of an APU equipped with a solid-state hydrogen storage tank are significantly higher, about 1.5–2 times the systems based on type III and IV tanks. However, mature technologies are compared with a prototype, which has much room for optimization. To improve both the environmental and economic performances of the APU, a reduction of structural materials for both the solid-state hydrogen tank and Balance of Plant is recommended.

EVALUATION OF ECO-EFFICIENCY BY MULTICRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS. CASE STUDY OF ECO-INNOVATED AND ECO-DESIGNED PRODUCTS FROM RECYCLABLE WASTE

Until now, humanity has strived to makes efforts for warranting the economic development on a sustainable way for well-being improvement, simultaneously with resource preservation and environmental protection. The industrial production processes, which generate added value and ensure people welfare are in connection with the environment regarding resource consumption and waste generation. In order to work on a sustainable basis, industry should attain a balance between economy, ecology and community, in the long run. One way in which industry may depend not as much of natural resources and could reduce the environmental impacts is to improve its efficiency in using materials by recycling waste in a closed loop, in line with the principles of the circular economy. It is largely recognized that economic efficiency -simultaneously with reducing environmental impacts are promising when they are guaranteed in the early phases of any process/product synthesis and design. Therefore, eco-innovation and eco-design are tightly connected with process/product/service eco-efficiency. Eco-innovation (ecological thinking or re-thinking) is related to all forms of innovations (technologies, products, services), which are able to bring new and robust business opportunities and benefits for the environment in terms of resources and impacts. Eco-design (sometimes denoted as environmental redesign) is a fully integrated design activity in which the environmental impact is checked against targets for improvement. The results of eco-innovation and eco-design application to close the cycles using production waste as resource need to be evaluated in terms of economic and environmental performance comparative with the conventional pathway. Given these features, we applied the Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to evaluate the eco-efficiency of a re-though and redesigned product based on eco-innovation and eco-design approaches, using waste production resulted from corrugated board and cardboard box manufacturing as raw material, and comparing it with the original, which is made from corrugated board sheets.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM): An innovative technique aimed at reusing Lecce stone waste for industrial design and building applications

Lecce Stone is an attractive and appreciated natural material, as well as a non-renewable resource. For thousands of years people have extracted it from the Salento quarries for use as an ornamental, celebrative or building material. The production chain of this stone, from extraction through to the finished product, results in a great deal of scraps produced in both solid and muddy form. In recent decades a new attitude toward stone scraps has gradually taken hold, namely an eco-design approach. Already adopted by some companies, it consists of reusing industrial scraps to produce innovative manufacturing products. Nowadays, in fact, only a small percentage of Lecce Stone (LS) scraps is recycled and used as raw material in other fields, while a significant portion is taken to the landfill, as in the case of the scraps produced in laboratories by Apulian artisans.The aim of this paper is to design a novel composite biomaterial, based on Polylactic acid (PLA) and Lecce Stone (LS) scraps and verify its suitability for use by designers to produce original industrial and building products, thereby obtaining environmental advantages through this new practice, based on the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technique.