Sustainable Product Design Research Articles

The effects of global product design on supply chain efficiency and natural resources management

The significance of global product design as a primary factor in determining supply chain efficiency and natural resource management. This study examines the impact of global product design changes on process and supply chain practices. Specifically, it seeks to understand in promoting sustainable practices across global supply chains. This study, utilizes the fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods to evaluate the criteria, sub-criteria, and various significant opportunities influencing sustainable product design and supply chain management. The fuzzy AHP method is used to assess the key criteria and their respective sub-criteria. The fuzzy TOPSIS method is used to rank the opportunities in driving sustainable practices across global supply chains. The results of fuzzy AHP show that innovation and product differentiation (C4), economic viability (C1), and supply chain efficiency (C5) are the crucial criteria. While the results of fuzzy TOPSIS present that supply chain transparency (O2) is the most suitable opportunity, followed by circular economy practices (O1) and policy advocacy and compliance (O6) in adopting global product design on supply chain efficiency and natural resources management. Thus, this study is highly relevant to the governments, industry specialists, and policymakers who aim at enhancing the dynamic business environment and sustainable development.

Marketing-Driven Supply Chain Innovation: A Framework for FMCG SME Sustainability

In an increasingly competitive and sustainability-conscious market, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector face unique challenges in achieving long-term sustainability. This review explores the concept of marketing-driven supply chain innovation as a strategic framework for enhancing SME sustainability. By integrating consumer-centric marketing strategies with supply chain operations, SMEs can align their product offerings, sourcing practices, and logistics with growing consumer demand for environmentally and socially responsible products. The framework outlined in this study includes key components such as sustainable product design, green logistics, ethical sourcing, and the incorporation of circular economy principles. Additionally, technology-driven innovation, such as data analytics and digital platforms, is emphasized as a tool to improve supply chain transparency, reduce waste, and optimize resource utilization. Through these collaborative efforts, SMEs can foster stronger consumer trust, enhance brand loyalty, and build a competitive edge in the market. Despite the potential benefits, the review also discusses the challenges SMEs may face, including limited financial resources, resistance to organizational change, and balancing profitability with sustainability goals. However, by leveraging green financing options, cross-sector partnerships, and phased implementation strategies, SMEs can overcome these barriers. Ultimately, the integration of marketing-driven supply chain innovation is positioned as a critical path for FMCG SMEs to achieve long-term sustainability, profitability, and market competitiveness in an evolving global economy. Keywords: Marketing-Driven, Supply Chain, FMCG SME, Review.

Unravelling the nice-to-have and must-have circular economy-oriented dynamic capabilities for sustainable product design and end-of-life management: Insights from PLS-SEM and NCA

Drawing on the dynamic capabilities theory, a multi-method approach was used to examine the effects of circular economy-oriented dynamic capabilities on sustainable product design and end-of-life management. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) were employed on survey data from 285 manufacturing firms in Ghana. The findings show that whereas reconfiguring capabilities enhance sustainable end-of-life management, sensing and seizing capabilities were not direct predictors of sustainable end-of-life management. Nonetheless, sustainable product design was found to be a mechanism through which sensing and seizing capabilities promote sustainable end-of-life management. Also, apart from reconfiguring capabilities, sensing and seizing capabilities were positive predictors of sustainable product design. The NCA results suggest that all three circular economy-oriented dynamic capabilities (i.e., sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring capabilities) are must-have (necessary) conditions for sustainable product design and end-of-life management. We provide empirical evidence (via PLS-SEM and NCA) of the nice-to-have and must-have circular economy-oriented dynamic capabilities for sustainable product design and end-of-life management, besides highlighting sustainable product design as a mechanism through which these capabilities enhance sustainable product design.

Sustainable and Bio-Based Food packaging design of Chinese agricultural products under the “Internet Plus” mindset

National identity is people's emotional attachment to the country, which is related to personal growth and success as well as the prosperity and stability of the country. The advent of the "Internet Plus" era marks a new ecological evolution in the networked society, significantly impacting personal national identity. On the one hand, the proactive, dynamic, autonomous, and connective nature of "Internet Plus" provides abundant resources and novel platforms to enhance individual national identity. On the other hand, its openness, compatibility, diversity, and anonymity can also challenge and influence personal perceptions of national belonging. This study delves into the nuanced interplay between national identity and the packaging design of Chinese agricultural products within the "Internet Plus" framework, exploring emerging trends, changes, and characteristics. This paper presents an in-depth literature assessment on the comprehensive methodology of Bio-based Food Packaging (B-FP) for food within the cyclical economy. It emphasizes three principal domains: (1) the function of B-FP within a circular goods layout method and material selection during the preproduction life cycle phase; (2) the contribution of B-FP to oval resource administration structures and the item's elimination life cycle phase; and (3) the optimum utilization of B-FP concerning the prioritization of end-of-life therapy. It scrutinizes the underlying issues and deep-seated causes, enriching the theoretical discourse on national identity. Through literature review and surveys, this paper firstly defines and clarifies the concepts of "Internet Plus," national identity, and the B-FP design of Chinese agricultural products. It then investigates the implications of "Internet Plus" for national identity within pastoral product B-FP design, examining its supportive role. Furthermore, survey data is analyzed to evaluate the impact of B-FP design on national identity from various aspects such as structure, visual appeal, and the absence of green design principles. Identifying key challenges and attributing them to factors such as brand competitiveness and rural revitalization strategies, the study ultimately seeks to formulate design strategies for agricultural product B-FP from a national identity perspective within the "Internet Plus" context.

Sustainable Innovative Design of Elderly-Friendly Smart Medical Products: An Integrated Model

Under the promotion of combined medical and elderly care (CMEC) policies, the market demand for elder-friendly smart medical products as convenient intelligent healthcare devices is growing. However, most studies on elderly-friendly smart medical products focus on functional enhancement and cost control, and there is a lack of research on the sustainable innovative design of elder-friendly smart medical products from the perspective of elderly emotional needs. Therefore, this paper proposes an integrated framework based on the fuzzy Kano model, Kansei engineering, and theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) for mapping the complex and dynamic emotional needs of the elderly to product design parameters to produce innovative solutions, ensuring the sustainability of the design process and the innovativeness of the design solutions of elder-friendly smart medical devices. We verified the effectiveness and applicability of this integrated framework through a case study involving sustainable innovation design of a smart blood pressure device. The results of this study are of considerable theoretical and practical significance for promoting the development of the market for elder-friendly smart medical products under the policy of CMEC, meeting the needs of the elderly for healthcare devices and improving their quality of life.

A comprehensive review of current techniques, issues, and technological advancements in sustainable E-waste management

Electronic garbage (E-waste), which is caused by the global fast obsolescence and disposal of electronic gadgets, has become a major environmental concern. Adoption of sustainable E-waste management strategies has become crucial to address the growing effects of e-waste on the environment and human health. This in-depth overview of existing practices, problems, and new technology developments in sustainable E-waste disposal is presented in this thorough review article. The article analyses the efficiency of frequently used E-waste management strategies for reducing environmental effects and fostering resource recovery, including recycling, refurbishing, landfilling, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) initiatives. The main difficulties that policymakers, producers, recyclers, consumers, and employees in the unorganized sector of the economy confront in managing e-waste are also discussed, along with possible solutions. The analysis emphasizes the value of ecologically sound E-waste recycling techniques and examines new technology advancements, such as automated disassembly and trash sorting based on artificial intelligence, aimed at improving recycling efficiency and lowering environmental burdens. Along with successful case studies, the idea of a circular economy and sustainable product design in E-waste management are also covered. It is highlighted the need of strong legislative frameworks, international partnerships, and public engagement in responsible E-waste disposal in order to address the issue of transboundary flows of E-waste. In its last section, the paper sketches out the picture for the future and makes suggestions for how governments, businesses, and other stakeholders may adopt sustainable E-waste management approaches and further the development of a circular economy for E-waste.

An Integrated Quality Management System (QMS) Combined with AI/ML Guidelines for the Design and Development of Sustainable Products and Services for IT and Engineering R&D Companies Providing Solutions to Global Mining Organizations

An Integrated Quality Management System (QMS) Combined with AI/ML Guidelines for the Design and Development of Sustainable Products and Services for IT and Engineering R&D Companies Providing Solutions to Global Mining Organizations

A BP Neural Network Product Design Optimization Model Based on Emotional Design and Sustainable Product Design

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of emotional design and sustainable product design on user experience and satisfaction. Additionally, the study aims to optimize the combination efficiency and material selection methods of these two design approaches, extracting optimization parameters based on emotional and sustainable product design principles. By analyzing user satisfaction through questionnaires, various product indicators were examined. The study ultimately establishes a BP neural network optimization model by analyzing the design elements of different products and the satisfaction levels of various indicators. This BP neural network design optimization model, integrating emotional and sustainable design, demonstrates an accuracy rate of over 95% in predicting user satisfaction for different design schemes. Upon examining the emotional design and sustainable design parameter tables following data standardization, and analyzing various product models, it was concluded that the rate of change in each design parameter significantly impacts the satisfaction of each product indicator, highlighting the importance of these parameters in product design optimization.

An integrative review exploring the development of sustainable product design in the technological context of Industry 4.0

Recent developments in the field of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and its enabling technologies have led to a renewed interest in sustainable product design (SPD). So far, however, little research has adequately addressed these issues. Inspired by I4.0 and sustainability initiatives, this study aims to present a new perspective on the development of SPD through an integrative review. The purpose is to provide frameworks as a stepping stone toward the development of SPD in the technology-driven context of I4.0. Based on the four characteristics of intelligentization, digitalization, servitization, and networkization of I4.0, four pillows of the development framework were introduced. These include artificial intelligence-aided design (AI-aided design, AIAD), cyber-physical design (CPD), product-service design (PSD), and cross-platform collaborative design (CPCD). The proposed frameworks have a meaningful impact and positive implications for SPD associated with the corresponding I4.0 technologies. They can offer holistic solutions for SPD, leading to a more agile, responsive, resource-efficient, and sustainability-visible design process and design outcome. The study also discusses limitations and future research implications.

Sustainable Product Design Strategy: A Comparative Analysis on the M113

This empirical study investigates the relationship between the inventory trends of M113 armored vehicles and sustainable design strategies in the defense sectors of Türkiye and the USA with the perspective of industrial design. Utilizing ARIMA modeling and linear correlation analysis, data collected up to 2022 reveals distinct patterns in vehicle inventory dynamics. The ARIMA analysis produced reliable coefficients despite limited data availability, suggesting feasible numerical assessments. Results indicate that in the USA, the introduction of alternative vehicles such as the Bradley, designed with sustainable principles, led to the phased reduction of M113s. Conversely, Türkiye's inventory trends reflect a linear relationship between the absence of vehicles with design integrity and sustained M113 usage, with modernization efforts prolonging its presence. The study underscores the economic advantages of implementing sustainable product design strategies in armored vehicle development, particularly evident in the USA's production of the Abrams tank and Bradley tracked armored carrier. Despite Türkiye's prolonged reliance on M113s, it highlights the necessity of comprehensive feedback mechanisms and professional units to perform sustainable design strategies. Moreover, it reveals the inefficiency of solely relying on modernization for operational vehicle counts in developing countries, emphasizing the importance of balancing technological advancements with vehicle design integrity. This study sheds light on the evolving nature of sustainable design strategies in defense sectors, urging countries to integrate comprehensive feedback mechanisms and design integrity principles into their armored vehicle development processes for long-term effectiveness and economic viability.

EcoSketch: Promoting Sustainable Design through Iterative Environmental Assessment during Early-Stage Product Development

Sustainability has long been a topic of substantial interest to the design and human-centered computing communities. With industries increasingly prioritizing climate targets, there is a growing demand for sustainable product design. This article addresses this need through EcoSketch, a digital tool designed to democratize environmental impact assessments for product designers. Shifting typically retrospective evaluations to the early stages of product development, EcoSketch enables proactive consideration and adoption of sustainable alternatives. Unlike software tailored to environmental scientists, it minimizes the need for specialized training or extensive data inputs. We delve into the development and evaluation of EcoSketch, highlighting its unique features and usability strengths. This article concludes by discussing design implications and proposing future research avenues to strengthen the intersection of human-computer interaction and sustainable product design, with the aim of advancing progress on environmental challenges at the systems level.

Modelling circular economy capabilities and sustainable manufacturing practices for environmental performance: Assessing linear (PLS-SEM) and non-linear (fsQCA) effects

With the rising need to protect and preserve the environment coupled with pressure from stakeholders, businesses are looking for ways to minimise the harmful effects of their operations on the environment by enhancing their circular economy capabilities and implementing sustainable manufacturing practices. Most prior research has investigated how circular economy and sustainable manufacturing enhance environmental performance, but scant research has explored the configurational effects of circular economy capabilities and sustainable manufacturing practices on environmental performance. This study employs a multi-method approach on a sample of 285 manufacturing firms, to examine the effects of circular economy capabilities and sustainable manufacturing practices on environmental performance from the theoretical lenses of resource orchestration theory. First, the study uses PLS-SEM to determine the symmetric effects of circular economy capabilities and sustainable manufacturing practices on environmental performance. Second, the study adopts fsQCA to unravel the best permutation of circular economy capabilities, sustainable manufacturing practices, or (3) a combination of both circular economy capabilities and sustainable manufacturing practices to enhance or diminish environmental performance. We found that Sensing capabilities, Seizing capabilities, and Reconfiguring capabilities, as well as Sustainable product design, Sustainable manufacturing process, Sustainable Supply chain management, and Sustainable end-of-life management, have substantial effects on environmental performance. The finding further highlights that the configurations of circular economy capabilities and sustainable manufacturing practices rather than individual capabilities or practices strongly affect environmental performance. The findings support the value of circular economy capabilities and sustainable manufacturing practices for the manufacturing sector.

Green Supplier Selection Using Fuzzy AHP, Fuzzy TOSIS, and Fuzzy WASPAS: A Case Study of the Moroccan Automotive Industry

The green supplier selection presents numerous challenges, from initial assessment to final selection, which specialists in this field of supplier management often encounter. Among the techniques that aim to meet these challenges that are continually progressing is the creation and development of high-quality decision-making tools. In this study, the assessment of suppliers hinges on both traditional and environmental factors. A framework of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) is announced in order to appraise green supplier selection. This framework integrates Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) combined with two additional methods: WASPAS (“Weighted Aggregated Sum-Product Assessment”) and TOPSIS (“Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution”). At the outset, there were five environmental criteria for green supplier selection: “Health and Safety”, “Sustainable Product Design”, “ISO 14001 Certification”, “Investment Recovery”, and “Green Packaging”, along with three conventional criteria including quality, price, and delivery, were pinpointed through a review of literature and expert input to facilitate the MCDM approach. As part of demonstrating the pertinency of the recommended framework, a practical case study of the automotive industry in Morocco is discussed. The results demonstrate that the utilized Fuzzy hybrid methods yield consistent rankings for green suppliers. Additionally, among the four green suppliers, number three obtained the best ranking, which indicates the robustness and performance of the chosen models. Furthermore, this study offers a unified platform for selecting green suppliers under a Fuzzy environment. Therefore, the chosen strategy and its analysis provide relevant data and information to decision-makers for the choice and selection of suppliers. It can also provide and help procurement departments and decision-makers to choose and select the efficient ecological supplier in the global market supply chain.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Fracture Behavior of Extruded Wood-Plastic Composites under Bending.

The ability of wood-plastic composites (WPCs) to withstand various loads and resist plastic failure is attracting more and more interest due to the global increase in demand for WPCs by over 6 million tons per year. Among the most important and innovative research methods are those based on fracture mechanics-their results enable material designers to optimize the structures of these hybrid polymer composites at the nano, micro and macro levels, and they allow engineers to more accurately evaluate and select functional, sustainable, long-lasting and safe product designs. In this study, standard single-edge notched bending (SENB) tests were used to analyze the fracture toughness of two different extruded WPCs along the longitudinal (L) and transverse (T) directions of extrusion. In addition to their resistance to crack propagation, critical fracture criteria, initial contact stiffness, fracture parameters and fracture surfaces, the mechanical properties of these composites were also investigated. The results showed that WPC-A coded composites withstood higher loads until failure in both directions compared to WPC-B. Despite the larger data spread, both types of composites were more resistant to crack propagation in the T direction. Mode II of crack propagation was clearly visible, while mode III was not as pronounced. The experimental results and the numerical finite element (FE) model developed up to 58% of the maximum load correlated well, and the obtained deformation curves were best approximated using cubic equations (R2 > 0.99). The shear stress zone and its location, as well as the distribution of the equivalent stresses, had a major influence on crack propagation in the fracture process zone (FZP).

Bridging the green talent gap: a case study of product design education

AbstractThis research examines how sustainable product design education can address the deficit in green talent. It presents a framework for a structured curriculum in product design, with hands-on activities, industry-specific case studies, and best practices in alternative design development. The impact of technologies like additive manufacturing on design is considered. Findings demonstrate that knowledge of technological capabilities, industry specific understanding, and proficiency in analytical tools such as Life Cycle Assessments contribute to sustainable designs mitigating a green talent gap.

Achieving eco-innovative smart glass design with the integration of opinion mining, QFD and TRIZ

Modern consumption patterns lead to massive waste, which poses challenges in storage and highlights the urgent need for more sustainable product development. Customer feedback on products plays a crucial role in product design, yet previous studies overlooked these invaluable insights. In response, this study introduces a novel systematic methodology that integrates the strengths of text mining, Quality Function Deployment (QFD), and the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ). Text mining techniques are utilized to extract customer requirements from online platforms, while QFD is used to translate these requirements into technical specifications. By integrating the contradiction matrix from TRIZ theory with the triptych, technical conflicts are resolved. The design process for next-generation smart glasses is employed as an illustrative case to validate the proposed integrated innovation design approach. Analytical outcomes suggest that the introduced methodology can effectively address sustainable product design challenges and sets the stage for future advancements in smart glasses.

Sustainable product design

Sarah Emmins considers the entire supply chain in whether something is sustainable or not

Enhancing sustainability integration in Sustainable Enterprise Resource Planning (S-ERP) system: Application of Transaction Cost Theory and case study analysis

Environmental stewardship and sustainability have become critical priorities in the contemporary business environment. Corporations are integrating sustainable practices at the business process level via Sustainable Enterprise Resource Planning (S-ERP). However, a recognised shortfall of S-ERP systems lies in their potential inability to integrate sustainability metrics across all business functions holistically. To navigate this limitation, our study introduces the application of Transaction Cost Theory (TCT). By treating business processes as input-output systems, we apply this theory to quantify sustainability likelihood and overall losses. This novel approach bridges the gap, allowing for the comprehensive integration of sustainability metrics across all processes. The essence of our methodology is to leverage static input data collected by S-ERP regarding environmental impact and to extrapolate this data to provide a broader understanding of potential losses and gains. We've tested and validated this approach through two comprehensive case studies; one is about sustainable product design and development, and the other is about the sustainability evaluation of modular versus conventional construction methods. The results inform the formulation of robust sustainability policies at the business process level for systems akin to S-ERP, paving the way for more sustainable business practices.

From Aesthetics to Design: Sustainability of Wabi-sabi in Ceramic Product Design in the Contemporary Context

In recent years, wabi-sabi has become a popular trend in product design. While consumerism encourages the masses to pursue ‘perfection,’ ‘luxury,’ and ‘sophistication,’ a materialism that is detrimental to human well-being and the environment, the wabi-sabi aesthetic The acceptance of ‘imperfection,’ ‘incompleteness,’ and ‘impermanence’ in the concept of wabi-sabi helps to alleviate the pervasive social anxiety and establish a positive mental state. Notably, in the contemporary context, wabi-sabi is no longer confined to Japanese philosophy and aesthetics, but has become a global design trend. Wabi-sabi aesthetics is closely related to the concept of sustainable design, yet there is little theoretical knowledge about its sustainability in product design. Based on this premise, this paper discusses the transformation of wabi-sabi from aesthetics to design in a contemporary context and its sustainability in ceramic product design through background research and theoretical understanding of sustainable product design. Ultimately, this paper develops theoretically insightful knowledge of sustainable design for ceramic products to help potential ceramic designers and producers understand the wabi-sabi aesthetic from a sustainable design perspective.

Analyzing the Evolution of Sustainable Product Development Studies: A Bibliometric Review of Eco-friendly Innovation and Market Adoption

In response to escalating environmental concerns, sustainable product development has emerged as a pivotal strategy across industries. This paper presents a bibliometric review of eco-friendly innovation and market adoption within the realm of sustainable product development. The analysis spans from 1992 to 2024, synthesizing findings from 980 scholarly publications. Key themes, influential contributors, and temporal trends are identified through citation analysis, co-citation analysis, and bibliographic coupling techniques. The results underscore the significant impact of research in this field, with notable contributions addressing bio-composites, green IT, consumer behavior, and corporate sustainability. Visualizations elucidate evolving research clusters, from foundational topics to emerging areas such as circular economy and eco-innovation. Future research directions include eco-friendly materials, green product innovation, circular economy integration, sustainable product design, and supply chain implementation. This study provides valuable insights for academia, industry, and policymakers to advance environmental sustainability and socio-economic development.