acrobat JSPD 8 - The Centre for Sustainable Design

ANALYSIS
mPt
40
30
20
10
0
25,4
1,95
Figure 3: The environmental impact of the valve from cradle to grave. Evaluation performed using Ecoindicator 95.
Consideration of the requirements
and customisation of
advice could be achieved through
discussions. However, it is easier
to do this within some kind of
framework. IVF has used an
FMEA methodology (Failure
Mode Effect Analysis) for sorting
and customising the advice.
Recently many different ways of
using FMEA methodology for
environmental purposes have
appeared. In IVF’s application
of FMEA, figures are allotted to
environmental importance,
requirements and possibilities for
change. These three figures are
then multiplied to obtain a
priority list.
Consideration must also be given
to environmental problems not
highlighted by the LCA. These
might include the work environ-
36,9
22 THE JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DESIGN · JANUARY 1999
1,15
ment or process chemicals not
included in the inventory. The
main gap is usually related to
unusual substances and local
environmental effects, which
could be of significance in
specific cases. Supplementary
information could also be
provided through the local
authorities’ lists of hazardous
chemicals and the company’s
environmental review.
Case study: Valve
2,62
Tour and Andersson Hydronics
(TAH) designs and manufactures
valves and systems for waterborne
regulation of heating or
cooling media in buildings and
employs 850 people. The products
are used to obtain a desired
indoor climate with a minimised
energy loss. TAH has its own
0,0828 0,17
Brass Plastics Iron housing Packaging Truck 16t B250 Shaping brass Injection
moulding plates
Casting iron
greenh.
ozone
acidif.
eutroph.
h.metals
carcin.
w.smog
s.smog
pesticid
energy
solid
Analyse 1 p assembly ‘Materials’; Method: SimaPro 3.0 Eco-indicator 95/ Europe g / indicator
1,53
product development function
and has recently started to integrate
environmental considerations
as part of the introduction
of environmental management
systems. TAH has, in cooperation
with IVF, established a set of
company-specific guidelines, for
designing valves with a reduced
environmental impact. TAH
designers and buyers have
collected product information
and IVF developed a screening
LCA study.
Choice of product
A representative product was
chosen. The chosen valve
contains mainly brass, cast iron
and different sorts of plastics
(materials which are normally
used in the company). It is also
one of the company’s main
product types.