Design of consumables in a resource-efficient economy - a literature review
Reviewartikel, 2021

Consumable products have received less attention in the circular economy (CE), particularly in regard to the design of resource-efficient products. This literature review investigates the extent to which existing design guidelines for resource-efficient products are applicable to consumables. This analysis is divided into two parts. The first investigates the extent to which general product-design guidelines (i.e., applicable to both durables and consumables) are applicable to consumables. This analysis also scrutinizes the type of recommendations presented by the ecodesign and circular product design, to investigate the novel aspects of the CE in product design. The second analysis examines the type of design considerations the literature on product-type specific design guidelines recommends for specific consumables and whether such guidelines are transferable. The analysis of general guidelines showed that, although guidelines are intended to be general and applicable to many types of products, their applicability to consumable products is limited. Less than half of their recommendations can be applied to consumables. The analysis also identified several design considerations that are transferable between product-specific design guidelines. This paper shows the importance of the life-cycle perspective in product design, to maximize the opportunities to improve consumables.

Design guidelines

Resource efficient

Product design

Circular product design

Disposables

Consumables

Ecodesign

Dissipatives

Författare

Siri Willskytt

IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet

Chalmers, Teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Environmental Systems Analysis

Sustainability

20711050 (eISSN)

Vol. 13 3 1-25 1036

Mistra REES – Resource-Efficient and Effective Solutions

Stiftelsen för miljöstrategisk forskning (Mistra), 2016-01-01 -- 2019-12-31.

Ämneskategorier

Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi

Annan maskinteknik

Design

Drivkrafter

Hållbar utveckling

Styrkeområden

Produktion

DOI

10.3390/su13031036

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2021-02-26