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Reduction of transportation

Improvement <- C: transportation intensive <-

Checklist for ECODESIGN analysis

Product
Is the input required for transportation involved in the distribution of the product relatively small?
  
  
What are the hauling distances involved in the distribution of the product? Can distribution or quantities transported be further optimized?
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 Minimize transportation for distribution of product
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Is the means of transportation used for distribution of the product environmentally acceptable?
  
  
What means of transportation are basically available (railroad, ship, truck...)? How are the products transported, at present? How long are the hauling distances? Are there environmentally more acceptable 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 Choose environmentally acceptable means of transportation for distribution of product
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Have measures been taken to avoid damage to the product during transportation?
  
  
Are there moving parts in the product? Where are they located? Do they have to be fastened for transportation? How can shipping damage be avoided?
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 Prevent shipping damage
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less		 because
Feasibility
difficult
easy		 because
Action
at once
later
never		 Responsibility
Deadline

Is product packaging stackable?
  
  
Is there optimum utilization of the overall capacity of the means of transportation? Is the available storage area used efficiently? Can use been optimized by stackable product packaging?
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 stackable product packaging
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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Minimize transportation for distribution of product

In addition to packaging transportation of the product constitutes a crucial factor for the overall environmental impact caused by distribution. It is therefore imperative to minimize hauling distances. One possible approach to realize this goal consists in the optimization of quantities of cargo and number of hauling operations by means of logistics concepts.


Choose environmentally acceptable means of transportation for distribution of product

Apart from minimizing hauling distances the choice of appropriate means of transportation reduces the environmental impact caused by the distribution of the product. Among the locally available systems choose the one that is environmentally most acceptable. Switching from transportation by truck to railroad or ship can drastically reduce damage to the environment.


Prevent shipping damage

In order to avoid shipping damage it is sometimes advisable to prepare the product itself for transportation (e.g. fastening moving parts) thus reducing the risk of damage.


Use stackable product packaging

Stackable product packaging reduces the volume of the cargo to be transported. This measure helps to minimize the overall input required for transportation of the product.