Ecodesign

A relatively new management role, sustainability officers are top executives who determine how a company or organisation can best address environmental sustainability issues. Specifically, they may be responsible for the creation, development and management of sustainability policies and programmes...

Baby clothes for the sharing generation Innovative baby clothes subscription and sharing system saves resources Reusing and ultimatley recycling clothes is at the heart of the circular economy Circular economy thinking is the cornerstone of the Danish baby clothes brand Vigga. Baby clothes like...

Green hydraulic fluid alternative passes tests Soy oils instead of petroleum-based lubricants for 20 pieces of industrial equipment reduced danger of spills and waste problems Soybean oil is biodegradable and has no adverse environmental impact Sandia National Laboratory has worked on programmes...

Clever 'post-mix' cleaners Company rethought its domestic cleaning products to reduce waste and costs They changed the composition and packaging of the product Replenish, a company producing domestic cleaning products, wanted to rethink its products to better meet consumers’ needs. The firm observed...

Life cycle map points the way forward An audit, as part of an EU-funded project, reveals where packaging can be rationalised at paint company Life cycle map highlights shipping and distribution improvements, saving money and emissions Choosing to minimise the amount of packaging and the material...

Cutting waste in a systematic way will help SMEs to reduce cost and save material. A special waste-prevention plan will be very helpful in introducing such a systematic approach. It helps to understand where resources are used, where waste is generated, and to find and prioritise waste-reducing and...

Eco-designs power a sustainability drive Since 2005, 12 040 tonnes of packaging has been eliminated on Auchan products In Poland, lighter water bottle caps saves 4.6 tonnes in plastics every year In France, new freezer bags have cut cardboard consumption by 33 tonnes, requiring 375 fewer transport...

Packaging protects and preserves products and ensures that they arrive in perfect condition. But producing packaging also consumes resources and disposing of it results in a large amount of waste, especially in the growing online trade. This is an economic and an environmental burden. Packaging and...

Changes and improvements to production infrastructure can significantly reduce raw materials used, and related costs of storage, as well as boost manufacturing efficiency. According to McKinsey reports, companies should prioritise activities that offer the greatest potential benefit. Additionally...

Durable products designed with sustainability considerations, or ecodesigned, offer many advantages both to the company and the environment. Ecodesign takes into account the full life-cycle of products, from conception to design and development, to construction, packaging and end-of-life...

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) are typically used by households quickly after purchase or at least under one year. This includes packaged foods, cleaning supplies, light bulbs, but also cosmetics and personal hygiene items. FMCG packaging is a major challenge. Because of the short lifespan and...

Changing the company business model can involve new services, products and approaches to sourcing resources and dealing with customers. The motivation could be to capitialise on a new value proposition aimed at current or new customers or to enter a totally new market niche. Some new business models...