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Optimizing type and amount of process materials

Improvement <- B: manufacture intensive <-

Checklist for ECODESIGN analysis

Product
Are the auxiliary and process materials used in the production process based on renewable raw materials?
  
  
What auxiliary and process materials are used in the production process? Are alternative renewable raw materials available at present? What modifications in process technology would become necessary by switching over to these alternatives?
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 Preferably use process materials from renewable raw materials
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Are auxiliary and process materials recycled?
  
  
What quantities of auxiliary and process materials are used? Is it possible to recycle these materials? If yes, what modifications in the production process would be necessary? Can a reduction of costs be realized?
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 Recycle process materials whenever possible
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Are all auxiliary and process materials used in the production process environmentally acceptable, and has the use of hazardous substances been avoided?
  
  
What auxiliary and process materials are used in the production process? What quantities? Which of the materials used have to be considered environmentally dangerous and why? What alternatives are there?
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 environmentally acceptable auxiliary and process materials and avoid hazardous materials
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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Preferably use process materials from renewable raw materials

Avoiding conventional auxiliary and process materials (usually made from petrochemicals) can be realized by using renewable raw materials. These are usually made from plant material and they are already available as alternatives for a number of applications (lubricants, coloring agents...)


Recycle process materials whenever possible

Consumption of auxiliary and process materials may be considerably reduced through recycling of these materials. In metal working recycling of coolants and lubricants is already considered best practice; similarly, other auxiliary and process materials (e.g. water) may be recycled (e.g. in combination with heat recovery), thus ensuring not only manufacture with a minimum of waste, effluents, and emissions but also a reduction of costs.


Use environmentally acceptable auxiliary and process materials and avoid hazardous materials

Auxiliary and process materials used in production should be environmentally acceptable in order to minimize possible hazards for employees and the environment. Avoid toxic substances (c.f. respective lists of toxic substances), identify environmentally hazardous materials, and replace them by alternative materials.