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Selecting the right materials

Improvement <- ( A: raw material intensive, E: disposal intensive ) <-

Checklist for ECODESIGN analysis

Product
Do the materials used in the product show a good environmental performance?
  
  
What materials have been used for the product? What is the quantity of material required? What methods are applied for the environmental assessment of the materials used - and why? Is there any imaginable environmental impact that can not be detected by the methods chosen - if yes - what sort of impact would that be? How could it be taken into account?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Use of materials with a view to their environmental performance
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Has the use of toxic materials been avoided in the product?
  
  
What quantities of which materials are contained in the product? What problematic (poisonous, toxic) materials have been used? Are there any alternatives, what other materials could be used?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Avoid or reduce the use of toxic materials and components
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Have renewable raw materials (e.g. bio-polymers, etc.) been used in the product?
  
  
What materials is the product made of? What materials characteristics are essential? Are there renewable raw materials with similar characteristics? Which of the conventional materials used could be replaced by renewables?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Prefer materials from renewable raw materials
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Is the product made of recyclable materials?
  
  
What materials have been used for the product? What are the requisite (strength-related) material characteristics? Are the materials easily recyclable? If not - are there alternatives suitable for recycling?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Prefer recyclable materials
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Are the materials used in the product separable, have inseparable composite materials been avoided?
  
  
What materials are present in the product? Where have inseparable composite materials been used in the product? What is the reason for their being inseparable? Are there alternatives, if yes, how can separation of the materials be implemented?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Avoid inseparable composite materials
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Has the use of raw materials and components of known problematic origin been avoided?
  
  
What raw materials and components have been used for the product? Under which environmental and social conditions have they been extracted or manufactured? Are there modes of production that have to be considered problematic? Can they be avoided by selecting an alternative production site?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 ) 		yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )
P = R * F
Measure Avoid raw materials, components of problematic origin
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline


Approach to assessment:
  1. Relevance:
    Rate the relevance of the assessment question with a view to your product. (10...very important for my product; 5...less important for my product; 0...not relevant for my product).
  2. Fullfilment:
    Estimate the fulfilment of the assessment questions using one of the four possible answers (yes / rather yes / rather no / no); the additional questions support understanding of the assessment question and need not be answered.
  3. Priority:
    Select ECODESIGN tasks with high priority (P) and continue only with these.
  4. Idea for Realization:
    Find ideas to realize these ECODESIGN tasks. The content of the learning part with its examples shall assist you in doing that.
  5. Feasibility:
    Evaluate the feasibility of the suggested ideas (difficult / easy).
  6. Costs:
    Compare the costs of the new ideas with a reference situation (higher / same / lower) and give reason for that.
  7. Action:
    Decide when to carry out the ECODESIGN tasks (at once / later / never) and determine the person or department that shall be in charge of further steps in the realizing the product improvements and fix a deadline.
  8. Save:
    Save the checklist to document the ECODESIGN assessment.

 

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Use of materials with a view to their environmental performance

Different assessment methods evaluate materials by means of indicators, which facilitates a comparison of different materials with a view to their environmental performance. In most cases indicators will be calculated from life cycle analysis data (LCA), which can be used as a basis for the assessment of the environmental impact of materials. Of course, each of the methods used yields results only within its own bounds. Therefore, knowing these limits and the potential environmental impact not detected by a given method is essential for application in practice.


Avoid or reduce the use of toxic materials and components

The use of ecotoxic substances should be avoided where possible during the whole life cycle for environmental reasons as well as for reasons of health. Toxic substances may have serious effects even if used in small quantities (dioxine, PCB, PVC, ... and should therefore be avoided, in particular, when they are or could be contained in external parts or components. It is therefore important to avoid such substances during the whole life cycle of a product.


Prefer materials from renewable raw materials

The use of renewable raw materials, as a rule, not only provides for adequate disposal but also takes into account the issue of resources (renewable resources as a crucial criterion for sustainability). Renewable raw materials are not of fossil origin but are made, in most cases, from plants (wood, corn, rape, hemp...); for some applications they show very similar, often even better characteristics than other materials. The environmental benefit (conservation of resources and easier disposal) constitutes an argument for the use of renewables.


Prefer recyclable materials

Closed cycles form a constituent element of ECODESIGN. This also means that material cycles have to be closed. One of the prerequisites in this context is to use only materials that are really recyclable and that ensure, at the same time, that its characteristics are also present in the secondary material to a sufficient degree (if necessary by adding new material).


Avoid inseparable composite materials

Materials that are as such recyclable, too, can become a problem with a view to closed cycles if they have to be glued together with or otherwise inseparably bonded to other materials for reasons of strength or stiffness. In this case, recyclability would be impaired or even impossible, which would require disposal at the end of life of the product.


Avoid raw materials, components of problematic origin

Apart from the materials characteristics themselves the conditions for the production of comparable raw materials may vary greatly. Replacing raw materials of known problematic origin by similar or equivalent raw materials may considerably reduce the total consumption of resources. The overall environmental balance will not be impaired as compared to production on other sites.