Environmental producer responsibility is a business opportunity to design better products and to increase business success. Smart and successful approaches will be presented in this

Workshop Series on Eco-Design

for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in the Electronics Sector

This Europe-wide information campaign introduces the legislative framework, strategies for greening the supply chain and lean environmental management. Be aware: Impacts on the environment are impacts on your costs! Gain competitive advantages through eco-design!

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Innovative small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of the European economy. Your influence on the economic and improved ecological performance of the dynamic electronics industry is of utmost importance.

New European legislation, e. g., WEEE, RoHS, and the forthcoming Directive on Energy using Products (EuP) involve opportunities as well as challenges for enterprises.

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"Ecology + Economy = Eco-design" is the formula for environmental product design. Eco-design is the systematic consideration of environmental requirements in product design. Thus, the environmental compatibility of the product will be enhanced throughout its whole lifecycle.

By taking a closer look at the product lifecycle including production, use, and end-of-life, ecological and economic improvement potentials can be found, including:

• Energy efficiency of the product
• Toxic materials, restrictions on substances
• Reuse of products and components, recycling

Environmental impacts can be reduced by optimizing product design. This optimization not only helps to protect the environment, but at the same time facilitates cost reductions, increases in efficiency and competitive advantages.

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28 Workshops will be offered by the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM) and partners on behalf of the European Commission. They will take place from March to September 2005 in 20 countries all over Europe. The eco-design awareness raising campaign is aimed especially at small and medium-sized enterprises in the electronics industry.