The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre actively supports businesses and public administration in tackling the challenge of sustainable development. We encourage the use of approaches based on the Life Cycle Thinking.
Comprehensiveness and Practicality
There are several ways to assess the life cycle impacts of products. Some are more complex than others – all have their merits. Different approaches demand different requirements in terms of data collection and quality assurance, resulting in varying levels of robustness. They also have different intended users – from consumers and small and medium sized enterprises, to major corporation product designers and experienced life cycle experts.
Once a product is put on the market, there is relatively little than can be done to improve its environmental characteristics. The majority of all product-related environmental impacts are, in fact, determined during the design phase.
Ecodesign is therefore the process of integrating environmental considerations during all (as early as possible) stages of the design of products (or services). The aim is to identify possible design strategies and alternatives in order to reduce the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle.
The adoption of the ecodesign approach has to focus on environmental trade-offs, which are related to shifting of environmental burdens from one product’s stage to another and from one environmental compartment to another. Ecodesign of products is therefore closely related to life cycle thinking.
Designers can benefit of the life cycle environmental assessment methodologies (including e.g. LCA) to identify, assess and improve life cycle stages, functions and components of a product that are responsible for the largest environmental impacts.
Within the Design for X (DfX) framework, many different possible strategies for implementing ecodesign are possible, including:
- design for reuse and recycling (e.g. reduced material complexity, use of recyclable and recycled materials, component recovery through closed loop re-manufacturing and secondary applications, modularity for the reuse of components);
- design for disassembly (e.g. simple disassembly of components that could be reused/recycled, or labeling and easy access to hazardous substances or main worn-out parts);
- design for durability (e.g. reparability, maintainability, avoiding the loss of performances throughout the life-cycle);
- design for longevity (e.g. upgradability, adaptability to future needs);
- design for extended function (e.g. multi-functionality, modularity);
- design for cleaner production (e.g. reduction of mass used dematerialization);
- Design for energy efficiency (e.g. reduction of energy consumption during use);
- design for reduction/substitution (of hazardous, toxic and polluting materials and substances);
- design for use of renewable materials and energy sources.
The Ecodesign Directive on Energy Related Products, waste related policies (as the waste Directive 2008/98/EC, Directive 2002/96/EC on waste of electrical and electronic equipment and the Directive 2000/50/EC on the end of life of vehicles), the EU Ecolabel and the Green Paper on Integrated Product Policy.
Further details about JRC/IES projects on Ecodesign are available in the projects section.
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Eco-labels are used to flag up the environmental credentials of a particular product or service. Key Environmental Performance Indicators (KEPIs) obtained through robust Life Cycle Assessments are being increasingly used to develop eco-labels.
Regulation on Eco-labeling: voluntary scheme of the European Eco-label
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An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a tool for identifying environmental problems and solutions. It provides organisations with a method to systematically manage their environmental activities, products and services, and helps to achieve their environmental obligations and performance goals.
Environmental Management System (EMS)
The International Standards Organisation (ISO) defines an Environmental Management System (EMS) as 'the part of the overall management system that includes organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy.'
Therefore an EMS provides a systematic way of addressing and managing the immediate and long-term impacts of an organisation's products, services and processes on the environment. It gives order and consistency to address environmental concerns through the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibility and ongoing evaluation of practices, procedures and processes.
EMS in Europe
Since 2001 in Europe the 'Eco-Management and Audit Scheme' (EMAS) has been open to all economic sectors including public and private services (Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2001).
EMAS was strengthened by the integration of EN/ISO 14001 as the environmental management system required by EMAS. It has maintained a robust image through its recognizable logo which signals EMAS registration, and through its consideration of indirect effects, such as those related to financial services or administrative and planning decisions.
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To guide the use of Life Cycle Thinking and Assessment in Europe we are developing recommended international methods, indicators, reference data and pilot studies. We focus on increased awareness and use of Life Cycle Thinking through scientific robustness, quality-assurance and consensus building.
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