Design for the Environment (DFE)

.1 Objectives This Guideline provides an overview of key environmental considerations and a method of defining the scope of the environmental design process. It outlines that there is a need for designers to evaluate the total life cycle of a product through utilizing concepts such as life cycle approaches, risk assessment, and other means. It also reviews the life cycle stages of a product and provides guidance on improving its environmental performance. Checklists, which are only one tool of many, are provided to help designers evaluate their design options. The utilization of such checklists should be accompanied by some element of sensitivity analysis, because although they are written to guide users in the direction of environmental improvement, in some situations other tools may be required to reach a more comprehensive decision. Product design, development, and review should be carried out with these environmental considerations and checklists in mind. Individual designers may use this guideline to derive more specific environmental design criteria to suit their product options while maintaining the integrity of the environmental principles and the guideline framework. The publication provides the designer with an understanding of the environmental factors that may be modified to improve environmental performance of the product life cycle.

This Guideline may be used for (a) new designs that are innovative solutions to previous or new requirements; (b) new features to be incorporated in the next generation of existing products; and (c) incremental improvements or modifications to existing products. The design changes may be intended to affect any one or more stages of the life cycle of the product, and for incremental and continuous improvements leading to minimization of environmental burdens.

1.2 Intended Users This Guideline is for use by those who are responsible for bringing a product to market. This could include environmental professionals such as engineers, technicians, planners, etc, and specifically designers, their supervisors, and their management. It is also advisable to include other personnel such as risk assessors, industrial hygienists, medical and safety personnel, and product line management in the evaluation process. The details of the evaluation will also be of interest and use to p ersonnel in marketing, legal, services, sales, and product distribution. This Guideline is applicable to large and small organizations, including manufacturers, consulting specifiers, and users. Note: Others may have a general interest in the subject and wish to understand the processes of environmental design. Those interested in the use of the guideline are expected to include public interest groups, waste management professionals, purchasing management, government regulators, investors, shareholders, and other stakeholders.