Systematic Review - Network for Business Sustainability

• Reducing energy and chemical use and intensity
• Extending product life
• Dematerializing products by conserving materials
and minimizing the use of virgin and non-renewable
inputs
• Replacing products with services (servitization)
Table 2
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGY SUB STRATEGIES
Strategy 0:
New Concept Development
Address product system specifications before the
product design is finalized. The focus is not on a
physical product but on the function of a product
system and its ability to fulfill a need.
Firms can adopt these approaches individually, perhaps
tackling more pressing sustainability challenges
first. However, the piecemeal approach has been
superseded by more holistic redesign based on life
cycle thinking (Ceres, 2010; Noci & Verganti, 1999;
Shrivastava & Hart, 1995).
BREZET AND HEMEL’S (1997) SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES AS ADAPTED BY (COLBY, 2011)
Strategy 1:
Selection of Low-Impact Materials
Choose the least harmful input materials. The
use of lower-impact inputs is contingent on the
life cycle of the product because of the need for
materials to be context-relevant.
Strategy 2:
Reduction of Material Usage
Use the least amount of material possible by
proposing lean yet strong product designs.
Strategy 3:
Optimization of Production Techniques
Adopt production techniques that minimize the
use of auxiliary materials and minimize energy use.
Strategy 4:
Optimization of the Distribution System
Ensure that the product is transported to the
retailer from the factory in the most ecologically
efficient manner possible.
Dematerialization – replace a material product with an immaterial substitute that fulfills the
same need
Shared use of the product – meet needs by using fewer products
Integration of functions – use one object to answer numerous needs
Functional optimization – avoid superfluous components
Cleaner materials – avoid the use of materials that cause hazardous emissions during
production or when disposed of
Renewable materials – replenish material sources naturally
Recycled materials – use materials that have previously comprised other products
Recyclable materials – use materials that can be repurposed as other materials; most
effective when recycling collection is offered
Reduction of weight – reduce the environmental impacts associated with distribution
Reduction in (transport) volume – decrease the need for transportation
Alternative production techniques – create new techniques to address specific
production needs
Fewer production steps – simplify production processes to be less harmful
Lower/cleaner energy consumption – reduce the environmental impact of the production
process
Less production waste – maximize production efficiency to minimize waste and emissions
Fewer cleaner production consumables – minimize the use of input materials
Less/cleaner/reusable packaging – minimize the impacts associated with product
packaging
Energy-efficient transport mode – use the most efficient modes of transportation
Energy-efficient logistics – optimize logistics related to loading and distribution
Innovating for Sustainability 33