As product developers, designers and engineers, creating and introducing products into the world we live in, we feel an obligation to protect our environment when developing a new product.
Our team carefully considers how we can take action to reverse, halt or lessen the impact of climate change through product design and development.
As designers, engineers and product developers we use multiple techniques to reduce the environmental impact of the products we design and develop. We stay up-to-date with the latest materials, processes, finishes and technologies that support sustainable product design, across all industries and product types.
Matched with the commercial advantages of circular design and market demand for sustainable products, we apply this knowledge to any product design project.
For some clients, this can start with small steps and a simple strategy like using a sustainable material for a product, or a lightweight design that can be easily flat-packed for shipping.
For larger sustainable product development programs we collaborate with specialist Life Cycle Analysis consultants from our industry network that contribute with advisory.
commercial advantages and challenges in sustainable product design
Applying circular design and sustainable product design principles is something we all aspire to as we create new products. As a product development company, we work with product materials and manufacturing processes that have a direct impact on our environment.
The key issues around using a circular design approach to product development programs revolves around a client’s willingness to design sustainably.
Ongoing investment in sustainable product development and circular design related systems such as component or product replacement and recycling or the repurposing of products, can be seen as a commercial challenge for some clients, and an advantage for others.
At the start of a project, we review the plan with our Design for Environment (DfE) resources and suggest sustainable options to clients when we can see they’ll be cost-effective; there’s clear market demand; and when government legislation makes it a requirement.
barriers to sustainable product development
A lack of sustainable design legislation in most countries, in product design manufacturing, distribution and product warranty systems, including product end-of-life management and the potential increase in costs of product development, and final product cost, can create barriers to sustainable product development.
Even with the absence of legislation, there is potential to consider using sustainable and circular design principles where there are clear commercial advantages, when there’s a market demand for products developed within a sustainable and circular design framework.
Unregulated and unreliable recycling programs, and the questionable quality of some recycled materials; increased logistics and transportation costs; and inexperience in the facilitation and management of reuse and/or repurposing of products and components, can create additional commercial barriers for clients.
Without legislation it can be difficult for clients to justify the use of sustainable and circular design, unless the end-users of their products want it and market demand is overwhelming, or if competitors are taking substantial market share by offering it.
how to apply sustainable design principles to product development
There are many ways to apply sustainable principles to product design, here are just a few –
designing products for disassembly
careful selection of sustainable materials
reducing materials, parts and components required for a product
design for sustainable manufacturing processes
consideration of low product distribution ‘miles’
design for product recyclability
design for product reuse or repurposing
designing product end of life management systems
integrating sustainable design principles at the start of a project
When a client needs a sustainable approach, we have the know-how to integrate these principles as we design and engineer products for them. We can also engage specialists in sustainable and circular design from our large network of partners to advise clients interested in comprehensive sustainable design or circular design programs.
There are multiple layers to the product development process. Ideally having an additional layer for sustainability and circular design consideration throughout the entire process, is something that we have the ability to touch on with every end of stage or gate is ideal.
At the start of a project, if a client wants their product to be sustainably designed for a circular economy, the requirements and desired results need to be thoroughly discussed at the beginning, like any other user requirement, so we can build in that sustainability layer to support this.
If we design a product and then decide at the last minute, we need it to be more sustainable, the choices are then usually limited to materials or where materials are sourced.
If there’s a sustainable goal for the product development from the start of the project, we can create that small thread or additional layer. For some projects this makes total sense.
Considering circular design can become overwhelming for clients and product developers.
Sometimes starting with a small manageable aspect can be a good idea.
At outerspace we feel it’s better to do something than nothing, with the potential to expand on it later with subsequent products for a client.
sustainable product development
Outerspace has collaborated with clients to develop sustainable products in many industry sectors including products for consumer, agricultural equipment and medical scientific device markets.
As product developers, designers and engineers, creating and introducing products into the world we live in, we feel an obligation to protect our environment when developing a new product.
Our team carefully considers how we can take action to reverse, halt or lessen the impact of climate change through product design and development.
As designers, engineers and product developers we use multiple techniques to reduce the environmental impact of the products we design and develop. We stay up-to-date with the latest materials, processes, finishes and technologies that support sustainable product design, across all industries and product types.
Matched with the commercial advantages of circular design and market demand for sustainable products, we apply this knowledge to any product design project.
For some clients, this can start with small steps and a simple strategy like using a sustainable material for a product, or a lightweight design that can be easily flat-packed for shipping.
For larger sustainable product development programs we collaborate with specialist Life Cycle Analysis consultants from our industry network that contribute with advisory.
commercial advantages and challenges in sustainable product design
Applying circular design and sustainable product design principles is something we all aspire to as we create new products. As a product development company, we work with product materials and manufacturing processes that have a direct impact on our environment.
The key issues around using a circular design approach to product development programs revolves around a client’s willingness to design sustainably.
Ongoing investment in sustainable product development and circular design related systems such as component or product replacement and recycling or the repurposing of products, can be seen as a commercial challenge for some clients, and an advantage for others.
At the start of a project, we review the plan with our Design for Environment (DfE) resources and suggest sustainable options to clients when we can see they’ll be cost-effective; there’s clear market demand; and when government legislation makes it a requirement.
barriers to sustainable product development
A lack of sustainable design legislation in most countries, in product design manufacturing, distribution and product warranty systems, including product end-of-life management and the potential increase in costs of product development, and final product cost, can create barriers to sustainable product development.
Even with the absence of legislation, there is potential to consider using sustainable and circular design principles where there are clear commercial advantages, when there’s a market demand for products developed within a sustainable and circular design framework.
Unregulated and unreliable recycling programs, and the questionable quality of some recycled materials; increased logistics and transportation costs; and inexperience in the facilitation and management of reuse and/or repurposing of products and components, can create additional commercial barriers for clients.
Without legislation it can be difficult for clients to justify the use of sustainable and circular design, unless the end-users of their products want it and market demand is overwhelming, or if competitors are taking substantial market share by offering it.
how to apply sustainable design principles to product development
There are many ways to apply sustainable principles to product design, here are just a few –
integrating sustainable design principles at the start of a project
When a client needs a sustainable approach, we have the know-how to integrate these principles as we design and engineer products for them. We can also engage specialists in sustainable and circular design from our large network of partners to advise clients interested in comprehensive sustainable design or circular design programs.
There are multiple layers to the product development process. Ideally having an additional layer for sustainability and circular design consideration throughout the entire process, is something that we have the ability to touch on with every end of stage or gate is ideal.
At the start of a project, if a client wants their product to be sustainably designed for a circular economy, the requirements and desired results need to be thoroughly discussed at the beginning, like any other user requirement, so we can build in that sustainability layer to support this.
If we design a product and then decide at the last minute, we need it to be more sustainable, the choices are then usually limited to materials or where materials are sourced.
If there’s a sustainable goal for the product development from the start of the project, we can create that small thread or additional layer. For some projects this makes total sense.
Considering circular design can become overwhelming for clients and product developers.
Sometimes starting with a small manageable aspect can be a good idea.
At outerspace we feel it’s better to do something than nothing, with the potential to expand on it later with subsequent products for a client.
Talk to our team about your sustainable product design requirements.
authors
BROWSE THE TEAM
Christian Tucker
Barry Magnier
Hayley English
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