Case Studies (part 2)

Information Technology / Electronics

Romanian University of Craiova develops a model for eco-design implementation in an SME

Activities at University of Craiova target at developing a model small enterprise implementing eco-design, largely based on the standards of the ISO 14.000 family.
The group of Titus Filipas at the University develops devices, such as lock-in amplifiers, sweep generators, active probes for oscilloscopes, nuclear radiation dosimetres, magnetometers and different educational electronic kits. The enterprise intends to evaluate the potential environmental impact of all their products in advance, aiming to achieve a type III environmental label. This type of label should give a clear advantage in procurement procedures of public high schools in Romania, which are seen as major customers for the educational electronics kits.
Already now, reused parts are incorporated in new products, e.g. integrated circuits for amplifiers. Used printed circuit boards are on offer on the local market. Linear components (diodes, transistors etc.) are disassembled manually and reintegrated in new products. Proper choice of components to be re-used needs good expertise.
By implementing the major ISO standards for Life Cycle Analysis, Eco-Design, and Environmental Management a well structured approach is undertaken. In parallel, this business case serves also as a methodological input to educational activities at the University.

Environmental benefits:

• Reuse of components

Economic benefits:

• Outstanding position in public procurement expected

Information Technology / Electronics

Multimedia Computer Systems Ltd.

The approach of redesigning products and improving environmental aspects was undertaken by achieving different strategies:
• Increase energy efficiency
• Enhance recycling and reuse options at end-of-life by using raw materials and assembly techniques
• Integrate upgradeable chassis with modular interface port design for extending the operational life of the hardware

Those strategies were developed by accomplishing for example a LCA on the existing MicroProTM design, analyses on customer requirements and future legislative obligations. As a result, MicroProTM sees redesign with the focus on enhanced environmental product aspects as a chance to comply with European legislation, a market advantage and a positive way to compete with other companies.

Environmental benefits:

• Reduced energy consumption
• Enhanced recyclability

Economic benefits:

• Being technology leader in their market segment

Information Technology / Electronics

Cable & Wireless (C&W)

Cable & Wireless (C&W) as a non manufacturer had the objective to implement ecodesign and environment related considerations into the supply chain and for internal applications, knowing that the use of energy can be handled in a more efficient way and GHG emissions should be reduced. The product take-back at the end of life, forced by the WEEE directive, was an additional topic affecting the company. Holding several meetings with senior managers, the Supply Chain Management and Transport Technology departments, aspects of improvement concerning the energy consumption of the equipment and cooling requirements as well as possible cost savings were discussed. It was feasible to create a better environmental and eco-design awareness during the meetings which led to a bigger acceptance in business culture. As a result most of the C&W suppliers are now seeking to improve the environmental impact of their products. Even so "cleaner" products and manufacturing processes have not been achieved yet.

Environmental benefits:

• Increased energy efficiency and improved take-back envisaged

Economic benefits:

• Cost savings under discussion

Information Technology / Electronics

Crawford Hansford & Kimber (CH&K)

The project which was accomplished at CH&K aimed at a new design for printed circuit boards. Regarding the WEEE directive, improvements were conducted concerning
• the use of non toxic materials in the printed circuit board base
• the reduction of chemicals used in the production process
• the substitution of lead by organic silver in the soldering process

Additionally the pcb's can now be disassembled with one screwdriver and components are easier to recycle.

Environmental benefits:

• Use of less harmful substances

Economic benefits:

• Reduced disassembly time

Kitchen equipment

ELICA

The cooker hood case study has been carried out within the framework of a LIFE project for the dissemination of IPP tools in furniture industry (LAIPP).
The cooker hood producer, ELICA, was founded in 1970, is located in Fabriano (AN-Italy) and is certified UNI EN ISO 9001 since 1998 and UNI EN ISO 14000 since 1999. ELICA S.p.A. operates in a sector where the competition is a major issue and is based not only on quality but also on the design and the look of the product.
People from different departments of the company (marketing, purchasing, quality, environment, design and production) have participated in the work team and have been involved in the quality-environment investigation phase and in the evaluation phase.

Environmental benefits:

• Reduction of hazardous materials
• Enhanced recyclability
• Noise reduction

Economic benefits:

• Better market position through better product properties

Laboratory Equipment

Riochem

The "TinyLab" is a novel and innovative product (and service) for chemical titration on-site analysis invented by Dr. Sohail Hajatdoost.
Design Wales have been advising Dr. Hajatdoost in the development of the business (Riochem Ltd.) and the "TinyLab" instrument since mid-2002.
The product was launched in October 2004. The instrument and cartridges have been designed for:
• ease of upgrading and repair to enable an extended product life cycle through reuse
• end-of-life reprocessing and recycling with plastic materials clearly identified
• eco-service opportunities have been explored
• WEEE directive
• environmental management system
• 
  (initial idea was for a disposable product)


Environmental benefits:

• Life time extension and enhanced recyclability

Economic benefits:

• New, outstanding product concept

Lighting

Daisalux (Spain)

Daisalux considers that environmental considerations must be taken into account in all industrial activities. That's why Daisalux puts emphasis on:
• Environmental management
• Eco-design methodology
• Green products
• Informing the consumer

Concentrating on the life-cycle-phases while performing eco-design, Daisalux attained several improvements focusing on components and assemblies in the field of Emergency lightning. The use of NiMH Batteries, printed circuits boards containing no halides, processing recycled and recyclable plastics for reducing waste at the end of the productive process and end of life manuals, for providing information with the purpose of giving the product the correct treatment once its life cycle has finished, are a few examples.
Daisalux won the prize for Innovative Service Product in recognition of the reduction in environmental impact in their "application of Eco-Design in emergency lighting".

Environmental benefits:

• Reduction of hazardous substances (e.g. in batteries and production processes)

Economic benefits:

• Service orientation (e.g. providing a software tool for efficient planning of emergency light systems)

Lighting

Toplight NV (Belgium)

Toplight performed an ecodesign project to improve their lighting equipment. Based on an LCA using the Eco indicator 99 method they analysed the current design. Not surprisingly, 85% of the environmental impacts are caused by the use phase. However, their gas discharge lamps are already much more efficient than traditional halogen lights. Also the normal lifespan is already much longer. Consequently, the project team focussed on material issues in a brainstorming
session to identify improvement options. Redesign focussed on reduction of material variety and on increased material efficiency.

Environmental benefits:

• Gross raw material consumption reduced by more than 70%

Economic benefits:

• Material savings resulted in cost reductions per lamp by 1/3

Lighting

Busch & Müller KG (Germany)

Typically lighting systems for bikes are either powered by a dynamo, or for continuous lighting by batteries. Use of batteries is expensive and not environmentally benign. Already several years ago the German company Busch & Müller Meinerzhagen KG developed a dynamo powered system, that can provide also lighting while the bike stops:
An electronic regulator stores a small amount of power supplied by the dynamo in a built-in capacitor. After a 3 minutes ride at a speed of 20 km/h, the capacitor is fully charged. At low speeds and when stationary (up to 30 minutes), the capacitor charges an LED. The brightness is especially high during the first few minutes of standing.
Innovation and ecology come together in "bumm" products: Several of their lighting components incorporating electronic standlights and LED technology require neither batteries nor accumulators. The idea of replacing these energy sources with environment friendly capacitors has opened up totally new perspectives for standlight technology.

Environmental benefits:

• Avoidance of batteries
• LED is energy efficient

Economic benefits:

• Standlight technology is an outstanding and very useful feature, resulting in increased market shares

Medical Systems

Varian Medical Systems UK Ltd

"The DFVM approach has proved to be a real eye-opener, taking away preconceptions and resulting in products with significant cost savings and better functionality." (John Peel, Managing Director, Varian Medical Systems UK Ltd).
Design for value maximization (DFVM) is Varian's term for cleaner design. It places particular attention on removing "non-value adding" activities in product manufacturing, both at Varian and in its supply chain and starts at the product design stage with involvement by all. The benefits of implementing a systematic approach to cleaner design at Varian include:
• 65% reduction in number of components used per collimator
• Improved competitive advantage
• Easier equipment disassembly for recovery and recycling


Environmental benefits:

• Enhanced recyclability

Economic benefits:

• Cost savings of £162 000/year from changes in component numbers and materials