Benefits and Difficulties for Industry when Designing for Sustainable Behaviour

Paper in proceeding, 2012

The research field of Design for Sustainable Behaviour (DfSB) suggests strategies for promoting more sustainable use of products. The DfSB methodology thus provides opportunities for companies to further reduce their products’ environmental impact and differentiate on the market, still DfSB is not yet systematically applied in industry. This paper highlights benefits and difficulties that companies face when applying design strategies for sustainable behaviour in the product development process. A master thesis project at Electrolux is used as a basis for discussion. In summary, besides the environmental gains, DfSB can spur innovations that fit users’ implicit needs and thus create potential for increased profitability. Nevertheless, companies need to extend their competence within DfSB and methodologies that facilitate the implementation of DfSB in companies’ current product development processes should be developed.