Developing products that are sustainable and have minimal climate impact is a complex challenge that will require new methods and ways of working. What do we consider here at VBG when we design our products to be as sustainable as possible?
Design methodology – part of the solution for sustainable products
Design methodology that takes the entire product life cycle into account can be part of the solution. The image below is taken from the Swedish Industrial Design Foundation’s (SVID) Sustainability Guide and visualises the concept of Ecodesign. Ecodesign is defined by SVID “innovative design solutions, for both products and services, that take the entire life cycle into account”.
bildkälla:sustainabilityguide.eu
There are choices to be made at every step to achieve the most sustainable product possible. As the image shows, the solution to a sustainable product is not only found in technical solutions, but also in efforts to minimise environmental impact throughout its life cycle.
Maintenance, repair, and upgrade
As I described in a previous blog post , the design methodology also has a clear user focus. With this focus, it is easier to develop a product that creates value for the customer.
A product that is used frequently for a long time is positive from a sustainability perspective. With the user in focus, it is also easier to identify the needs that exist in addition to the more basic functions. For example, you can create possibilities to easily maintain, repair, and upgrade a product. Less wear and waste and full focus on sustainable behaviour.
In design methodology, the problem is approached from different perspectives early in the project. By bringing together expertise from different parts of the company and using design methodology tools, a holistic view of how to achieve sustainability throughout the product’s life cycle can be achieved at an early stage.
VBG’s sustainability ambition
To develop and design reliable products with a long service life and make it easy for our customers to maintain, repair, or upgrade a product. That is our goal. By continuously improving our work, maximising the use of materials, and thus minimising the environmental impact throughout the life cycle of our products.
We design for sustainability and a long service life, which reduces the total cost of ownership.
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