System Design for Sustainability
Course URL: https://swayam.gov.in/nd1_noc19_de03/...

Concept covered:
Using the EcoDesign Checklist to conduct design for product life cycle.

Need Analysis
• How does the product system actually fulfil social needs?
o What are the product’s main and auxiliary functions?
o Does the product fulfil these functions effectively and efficiently?
o What user needs does the product currently meet?
o Can the product functions be expanded or improved to fulfil user’s needs better?
o Will this need change over a period of time?
o Can we anticipate this through (radical) product innovation?

EcoDesign Strategy @ New Concept Development through
• Dematerialisation
• Shared use of the product
• Integration of functions
• Functional optimisation of product (components)

Life Cycle Stages 1: Production and Supply of Materials and Components
What problems arise in the production and supply of materials and components?
• How much, and what types of plastic and rubber are used?
• How much, and what types of additives are used?
• How much, and what types of metals are used?
• How much, and what other types of materials (glass, ceramics, etc.) are used?
• How much, and what types of surface treatment are used?
• What is the environmental profile of the components?
• How much energy is required to transport the components and materials?

Life Cycle Stage 2: In-house production
What problems can arise in the production process in your company?
• How many, and what types of production processes are used? (including connections, surface treatments, printing and labelling)
• How much, and what types of auxiliary materials are needed?
• How high is the energy consumption?
• How much waste is generated?
• How many products don’t meet the required quality norms?

Life Cycle Stage 3: Distribution
What problems can arise in the distribution of the product to the customer?
• What kind of transport packaging, bulk packaging, and retail packaging are used (volume, weights, materials, reusability)?
• Which means of transport are used?
• Is transport efficiently organised?

Life Cycle Stage 4: Utilisation
What problems arise when using, operating, servicing and repairing the product?
• How much, and what type of energy is required, direct or indirect?
• How much, and what kind of consumables are needed?
• What is the technical lifetime?
• How much maintenance and repairs are needed?
• What and how much auxiliary materials and energy are required for operating, servicing and repair?
• Can the products be disassembled by a layman?
• Are those parts often requiring replacement detachable?
• What is the aesthetics lifetime of the product?

Life Cycle Stage 5: Recovery and disposal
What problems can arise in the recovery and disposal of the product?
• How is the product currently disposed of?
• Are components or materials being reused?
• What components be reassembled without damage?
• What materials are recyclable?
• Are the materials identifiable?
• Can they be detached quickly?

Playlist link:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwdnzlV3ogoXD4NBvgyZJhsDUgaEB1nV3

Ms Sharmistha Banerjee
Department of Design
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati