From Life Cycle Assessment to Systematic Integration of Eco-Design Criteria Inside Product Development Process: Experience at a First Tier Automotive Supplier

The systematic integration of environmental consideration in product design is object of research activities all over the world, since companies are showing an increasing interest in products and processes that are environmentally sound. This paper shows a research activity performed at Università di Firenze for Rieter Automotive. First of all an introduction to Design for Environment is showed; then, starting from application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a methodological approach is presented that integrates all elements playing a role in eco-design implementation, analysing and organising them in a logical framework. The results of the project are showing promising opportunities for improvement of the methods for optimised and eco-efficient design and technical choices. This will support designers and technologists both in innovation tasks and during product definition, in order to find eco-efficient solutions by means of userfriendly methods.