Setting the framework for the product eco-design initiative

STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION

Try it! : Follow the sheet step by step and have a go!

Step of

To prepare the initiative find out about the stakes and stages of an eco-design initiative, as well as the main impacts of materials and processes (See Sheet: Try it!: Training my personnel in the stakes of eco-design). Also find out about concrete eco-design initiatives (See "They've done it!" page).

Choose the date of my alert to complete this stage
List the main product families developed by the organisation and the quantities produced: jeans, coats, trainers, bed linen … and make an initial selection with a maximum of five product references as possible eco-design candidates (even if ideally you will only retain a maximum of three of them). Priority should be given to iconic products and the references with the highest sales volume, in order to maximise impacts (or why not new products with a high potential?). It is also important to consider permanent products or products which are renewed to ensure your efforts cover a longer period of time.

Choose the date of my alert to complete this stage
Prepare a first set of basic data. For prioritised product references, identify the main stages of the value chain: place of production, main raw materials used, dyeing type (laser, printing, without water), possible finishes...

In parallel, ask suppliers to send you more details on the manufacturing and components of these products, including the environmental dimension. The role of the supplier and of the partnership developed is essential for the success of the initiative.

Choose the date of my alert to complete this stage
Look for existing life cycle analyses (LCA) which are as close as possible to the references you have prioritised, taking care to assess the comparability of the value chains concerned (See Cheat Sheet: Life cycle analysis: definition and examples).

For the references of prioritised products for which no LCA is identified or for which the LCA is not close enough to the organisation's manufacturing processes, perform a first environmental analysis.

Choose the date of my alert to complete this stage
Evaluate the opportunity to ask a specialised consulting firm to carry out a simplified LCA bearing in mind that this implies a limited budget (less than €10k per product) if you collect the data yourself. This tailor-made solution presents numerous advantages: having a go at traceability via data collection, getting teams and partners involved in analysing possible eco-design lines and lastly, possessing a tailor-made study which can be communicated to teams and to the public (if you have ordered a critical review from a third party expert).

Choose the date of my alert to complete this stage
Carry out an LCA on one or several product references (maximum of three to begin with if you don't have a dedicated team). Begin by collecting data on manufacturing processes from your partners. The consulting firm will carry out modelling and will conduct sensitivity tests on the main eco-design parameters in order to accurately measure the impacts (for example: impact of a change of material, components, or packaging, alternative supplier sourcing etc.).

Choose the date of my alert to complete this stage
Launch the first eco-design initiatives. For every prioritised product reference identify the life cycle stages with the highest impacts with respect to the priority indicators (climate change, water consumption, eutrophication, land occupancy).

Submit the analysis and results for discussion at a working meeting in order to assess the main eco-design levers with teams and possibly with the suppliers concerned. For example: more ecological main material, alternative components, eco-efficient processes (dyeing, cutting etc.), transport, product sustainability etc.…

Choose the date of my alert to complete this stage
Propose a one year, a three year and a five year road map in order to reduce environmental impacts and which includes the eco-design solutions selected for the priority products along with a series of associated KPIs.

Choose the date of my alert to complete this stage
Share these elements internally to initiate an approach to find eco-design solutions (See Sheet: Try it!: Steering my eco-design approach). Communicate on the KPIs and their evolution.

Show, in a concrete and figured manner, the environmental benefits associated with this type of initiative.

Choose the date of my alert to complete this stage
To go even further, extend the initiative to related products (from the same range) and industrialise certain levers for cross-functional actions on a wider basis (i.e. transport policy, packaging, material sourcing etc.). To get teams involved it is essential to invest in training and appoint project managers. A close dialogue with suppliers is also a key factor in the success of the initiative.

Choose the date of my alert to complete this stage

To prepare the initiative find out about the stakes and stages of an eco-design initiative, as well as the main impacts of materials and processes (See Sheet: Try it!: Training my personnel in the stakes of eco-design). Also find out about concrete eco-design initiatives (See "They've done it!" page).

List the main product families developed by the organisation and the quantities produced: jeans, coats, trainers, bed linen … and make an initial selection with a maximum of five product references as possible eco-design candidates (even if ideally you will only retain a maximum of three of them). Priority should be given to iconic products and the references with the highest sales volume, in order to maximise impacts (or why not new products with a high potential?). It is also important to consider permanent products or products which are renewed to ensure your efforts cover a longer period of time.

Prepare a first set of basic data. For prioritised product references, identify the main stages of the value chain: place of production, main raw materials used, dyeing type (laser, printing, without water), possible finishes...

In parallel, ask suppliers to send you more details on the manufacturing and components of these products, including the environmental dimension. The role of the supplier and of the partnership developed is essential for the success of the initiative.

Look for existing life cycle analyses (LCA) which are as close as possible to the references you have prioritised, taking care to assess the comparability of the value chains concerned (See Cheat Sheet: Life cycle analysis: definition and examples).

For the references of prioritised products for which no LCA is identified or for which the LCA is not close enough to the organisation's manufacturing processes, perform a first environmental analysis.

Evaluate the opportunity to ask a specialised consulting firm to carry out a simplified LCA bearing in mind that this implies a limited budget (less than €10k per product) if you collect the data yourself. This tailor-made solution presents numerous advantages: having a go at traceability via data collection, getting teams and partners involved in analysing possible eco-design lines and lastly, possessing a tailor-made study which can be communicated to teams and to the public (if you have ordered a critical review from a third party expert).

Carry out an LCA on one or several product references (maximum of three to begin with if you don't have a dedicated team). Begin by collecting data on manufacturing processes from your partners. The consulting firm will carry out modelling and will conduct sensitivity tests on the main eco-design parameters in order to accurately measure the impacts (for example: impact of a change of material, components, or packaging, alternative supplier sourcing etc.).

Launch the first eco-design initiatives. For every prioritised product reference identify the life cycle stages with the highest impacts with respect to the priority indicators (climate change, water consumption, eutrophication, land occupancy).

Submit the analysis and results for discussion at a working meeting in order to assess the main eco-design levers with teams and possibly with the suppliers concerned. For example: more ecological main material, alternative components, eco-efficient processes (dyeing, cutting etc.), transport, product sustainability etc.…

Propose a one year, a three year and a five year road map in order to reduce environmental impacts and which includes the eco-design solutions selected for the priority products along with a series of associated KPIs.

Share these elements internally to initiate an approach to find eco-design solutions (See Sheet: Try it!: Steering my eco-design approach). Communicate on the KPIs and their evolution.

Show, in a concrete and figured manner, the environmental benefits associated with this type of initiative.

To go even further, extend the initiative to related products (from the same range) and industrialise certain levers for cross-functional actions on a wider basis (i.e. transport policy, packaging, material sourcing etc.). To get teams involved it is essential to invest in training and appoint project managers. A close dialogue with suppliers is also a key factor in the success of the initiative.