Le fractionnement de quatre biomasses herbacées modèles présentes ou cultivées dans l’estuaire de la Loire est étudié pour la production d’agrofibres adaptées à leur usage dans les matériaux composites écoconçus pour la construction. Les biomasses caractérisées chimiquement et physicochimiquement sont traitées par trois technologies de complexité croissante : le broyeur à marteaux permettant une fragmentation transversale et longitudinale radiale, le défibrage mécanique orientant les contraintes de façon longitudinale radiale et tangentielle, et le défibrage thermomécanique permettant un raffinage à l’échelle de la fibre élémentaire. Le Foin des Marais, modèle de mélange d’herbacées composé de tiges portant des feuilles, endémiques de prairies mésohygrophiles, est une source d'agrofibres cellulo-hémicellulosiques peu lignifiées (ratio cellulose/hémicelluloses/lignines 50/40/10) présentant un très fort taux de composés hydrosolubles (17 à 27% de MS), très hydrophiles (ratio liquide/solide à saturation L/Ssat entre 5,2 et 9,7), relativement fines (facteur de forme L/D >10) et de petites dimensions (moins de 5 cm) permettant l’obtention d’une grande gamme de densité de mats (37 à 112 kg/m3) et ayant une bonne aptitude à l’auto-assemblage sous contrainte. La Rouche, modèle de mélange d’herbacée composés de feuilles ayant des tiges, endémique de prairies hygrophiles, est une source d'agrofibres cellulo-hémicellulosiques peu lignifiées (ratio 50/40/10) présentant un fort taux de composés hydrosolubles (16% de MS), hydrophiles (L/Ssat entre 4,1 et 10,7), fournissant une large gamme de morphologie d’agrofibres allant jusqu’à 13cm de long pour des L/D de 100, formant des mats de 32 à 121 kg/m3, et ayant une bonne aptitude à l’autoassemblage. La Canne de Roseau (Phragmites australis), modèle de tiges creuses rigides, endémiques des bas marais, est une source d'agrofibres rigides beaucoup plus lignifiées (ratio 50/30/20) contenant peu de composés hydrosolubles (6 à 8% de MS), thermostables jusqu’à 220°C et relativement peu hydrophiles (L/Ssat de 3,4) si elles ne sont pas trop déstructurées, ne générant que de agrofibres courtes (moins de 5 cm) et de faible finesse (L/D <15). Les tiges de Mélilots jaune et blanc (Melilotus officinalis et Melilotus alba), dicotylédones à croissance secondaire adaptée à la culture sur les terrains de l’estuaire de la Loire, s’est avéré produire deux classes d’agrofibres. La première est composée d’agrofibres longues, extractibles du cortex de la tige, souples et essentiellement cellulosiques (ratio 75/15/10) pouvant aller jusqu’à 16cm de long (L/D>100), formant des mats de 38 à 42 kg/m3; la seconde classe d’agrofibres macroporeuses courtes et rigides extractibles du bois, beaucoup plus lignifiées (ratio 65/15/20), ayant très peu d’extractibles (2 à 3% de MS), et peu hydrophiles (L/Ssat entre 2,5 et 2,8). Un nouveau procédé d’extraction d’agrofibres longues (dm à cm) courtes (cm à mm), et ultra courtes (mm à μm) est développé. Des agrofibres sélectionnées sont mises en oeuvre avec de la colle de caséine dans des agrocomposites basse densité type blocs isolants thermiques (40 à 82 mW/m*K) et phoniques (indice d'affaiblissement sonore entre 0,18 et 1,2 dB(A)/mm) ; avec de la colle d’os dans des agrocomposites haute densité type panneaux de particules et de fibres (D jusqu’à 1,3 g/cm3, Eflexion jusqu’à 3,9 GPa et σmax flexion jusqu’à 39 MPa) ; ainsi qu’avec une matrice thermoplastique recyclable (PP+PPMA) chargées jusqu’à 40% en agrofibres et présentant une tenue mécanique jusqu’à 5 fois plus élevée en traction et en flexion. Parallèlement, les graines de Mélilots sont caractérisées, et se révèlent être riche en protéines (31 à 32% de MS) et avoir un fort potentiel en fraction extractible aqueuse (34 à 36% de MS) contenant des galactomannanes. Le raffinage de cette agroressources a été entrepris en vue de l'obtention de liants pour des agrocomposites. / The fractionation of four Loire estuary herbaceous biomasses models, endemic or cultivated, have been studied for their agrofibre production potential and adapted for their use in composite materials for ecodesigned construction. Chemically and physicochemically characterized biomasses have been processed by three increasingly complex technologies: hammer-mill that provides transversal and radial longitudinal fragmentation, mechanical defibration orienting the constraints in radial and tangential longitudinal way, and thermomechanical defibration that provides a refining at the scale of elementary fibre. Hay of Swamps, a herbaceous model made of a mix of stem bearing leaves, endemic of mésohygrophile land, is a source of few lignified cellulo-hemicellulosic agrofibres (50/40/10 ratio cellulose/hemicelluloses/lignin) with a very high rate of water-soluble compounds (17 to 27% of DM), very hydrophilic (saturation liquid/solid ratio L/Ssat between 5.2 and 9.7), relatively thin (shape factor L/D >10) and small size (less than 5 cm) allowing mats with large density range (37 to 112 kg/m3) with good self-assembling properties. Rouche, a herbaceous model made of a mix of leaves with stem, endemic of hygrophile land, is a source of little lignified cellulo-hemicellulosic agrofibres (50/40/10 ratio) with a high rate of water-soluble compounds (16% de DM), hydrophilic (L/Ssat between 4.1 et 10.7), producing a large agrofibres morphology range, up to 13cm long and L/D to 100, and allowing mats with density of 32 to 121 kg/m3, with good self-assembling properties. Reed (Phragmites australis), stiff hollow stems model, endemic of low-marsh, is a source of highly lignified stiff agrofibres (50/30/20 ratio) with a low rate of water-soluble compound (6 to 8% of DM), thermostable up to 220°C and relatively little hydrophilic (L/Ssat= 3.4) if they are not too much destructured, producing only short agrofibres (less than 5 cm) with low thinness (L/D <15). Yellow and white sweet clovers stem (Melilotus officinalis and Melilotus alba), secondary growth dicotyledon able to be cultivated on estuary land, provides two kinds of agrofibre. The first kind is stem cortex extractable long agrofibres, flexible and primarily cellulosic (75/15/10 ratio) up to 16cm long (L/D>100 and allowing light mat with density of 38 to 42 kg/m3. The second kind is secondary xylem extractable macroporous short and stiff agrofibres, highly lignified (ratio 65/15/20), with a very low rate of water-soluble compounds (2 to 3% of DM), and little hydrophilic (L/Ssat between 2.5 and 2.8). A new extraction process of long (from decimetric to centimetric length), short (from centimetric to millimetric length), and ultra-short (from millimetric to micrometric length) agrofibres had been developed. Selected agrofibres are processed with casein glue in low density agrocomposites such as insulating material (40 to 82 mW/m*K and sound reduction factor between 0.18 to 1.2 dB(A)/mm) ; with bones glue in high density agrocomposites such as particle board and fibreboard (D until 1.3 g/cm3, Eflexion until 3.9 GPa et σmax flexion until 39 MPa) ; thus with a recyclable thermoplastic matix (PP+PPMA) loaded until 40% of agrofibres, having a tensile and flexure mechanical strength almost 5 time higher. In parallel the sweet clover seeds had been characterized, and demonstrate to be rich in proteins (31 to 32% of DM) and to have a great potential in being water-extractable (34 to 36% of DM) containing, among other, galactomannans. The refining of this agroresources has been undertaken in the development of new binding materials for agrocomposites.

Ces dernières décennies ont été marquées par l’apparition d’un nouveau contexte en faveur du développement soutenable, dans lequel de nouveaux modes de consommation et de production émergent. Ce nouveau contexte tend à se substituer à l’innovation intensive, les entreprises industrielles à réorienter leur business model vers l’innovation soutenable. Cependant ce changement nécessite des bouleversements stratégiques et organisationnels que certaines entreprises ne parviennent pas à surmonter. Ces situations d’entreprises révèlent un double enjeu : la nécessité de caractériser l’innovation soutenable d’une part et l’intérêt de définir une stratégie d’évolution et de diffusion de l’innovation soutenable au sein des entreprises d’autre part. Afin de caractériser l’innovation soutenable, trois notions sont mobilisées : le business model, la soutenabilité et la fonctionnalité. Les résultats de cette exploration suggèrent l’utilisation du business model comme objet intermédiaire afin de favoriser la co-construction et l’évolution de business models. L’étude de la soutenabilité du business model conduit à la proposition de l’association de l’économie de fonctionnalité - business model serviciel - à l’éco-conception - modèle de conception environnemental - comme déclinaison de l’innovation soutenable. L’analyse de la fonctionnalité révèle une complémentarité de ces deux démarches. Celles-ci permettent de définir de nouvelles offres du point de vue des valeurs d’usage et permettent d’intégrer l’utilisateur dans la définition de l’offre. L’exploration de ces trois notions conduit également à la proposition d’un changement de paradigme en faveur du paradigme soutenable suivi du développement de trajectoires de business models afin de garantir aux entreprises l’atteinte à long terme des plus hauts niveaux de l’innovation soutenable. Ces résultats théoriques servent ensuite au développement d’une méthode d’aide à la décision : Business Model Explorer for Sustainability (BMES). La méthode BMES permet aux entreprises de concevoir de nouveaux business models soutenables et de définir des trajectoires vers ces business models soutenables comme stratégie de diffusion de l’innovation soutenable à long terme. Elle s’appuie sur la notion d’upgradabilité comme déclinaison opérationnelle de l’innovation soutenable. La méthode est développée et testée avec les deux industriels partenaires du projet IDCyclUM : Neopost et Rowenta. Une des principales perspectives de recherche proposée consiste à engager des travaux visant à poursuivre la définition de l’innovation soutenable qui reste un concept ambigu pour lequel il n’existe pas de consensus à l’heure actuelle. / Over the past decades, a new context in favor of sustainable development emerged. New models of consumption and production are developed. This shift from intensive innovation to sustainable innovation leads some companies to rethink their business model. However, this business model evolution requires strategic and organizational changes that some companies fail to overcome. These companies’ situations reveal a double challenge : the need to characterize sustainable innovation on the one hand and defining a strategy for disseminating sustainable innovation on the other hand.To characterize sustainable innovation, three notions are mobilized : the business model, sustainability and functionality. The results of this exploration suggest the use of the business modelas an intermediary object to promote the co-construction and the evolution of business models. The study of sustainable led us to associate functional economy - servicial business model - to eco-design- environmental design - as a declination of sustainable innovation. Functionality concept analysis revealed the complementarity of functional economy and eco-design approaches. This allows us to define new offers from the use-values point of view. The exploration of these three notions also leads to propose a paradigm shift in favor of sustainable paradigm. This paradigm shift is followed by the development and characterization of business models trajectories. These trajectories guide companies in achieving the highest levels of sustainable innovation on the long term. These theoretical results were used to develop a method called Business Model Explorer for Sustainability (BMES). The BMES method allows companies to develop sustainable business models and to define trajectories toward these business models. The method is based on the upgradability concept as operational application of sustainable innovation. The method was developed and tested with the two industrial partners of IDCyclUM project : Neopost and Rowenta. One of the main proposed research perspectives is to continue defining sustainable innovation. This concept remains indeed ambiguous and there is still no consensus about its definition at present.

El respeto al medioambiente está calando en la sociedad moderna a todos los niveles. Los ciudadanos, las instituciones públicas y también las empresas son conscientes del papel que desempeñan en la protección del entorno. Este trabajo busca profundizar en los conceptos relacionados con el medioambiente que afectan a las decisiones que las empresas toman en el día a día. Por la relación de la autora con el sector del automóvil, en el que he desarrollado mi actividad profesional desde el año 1999, la aplicación empírica se ha realizado en esta industria, con el objetivo principal de identificar los aspectos sobre los que se debe indicir para potenciar las actuaciones mediomentalmente proactivas. Como actividades clave para el sector se ha analizado en profundidad el diseño y la innovación, que, al incluir el enfoque sostenible, se estudian en la tesis como ecodiseño y ecoinnovación. Así, en primer lugar se realiza una revision bibliográfica sobre el ecodiseño, los beneficios que se derivan para las empresas al considerar la mejora medioambiental a través del mismo, los que se derivan de la actitud proactiva y de su implementación también se identifican, como, por ejemplo, la mejora de la posición competitiva, la reducción de costes, la mejora de la imagen de la empresa o el desarrollo de nuevos productos En esta primera parte se identifica también el principal obstáculo que las empresas encuentran, que se resume en la falta de incentivos y de apoyo para que las empresas puedan potenciar e implementar las actuaciones de ecodiseño. En el segundo estudio, se analizaron las acciones concretas que una empresa automotriz líder como Faurecia ha desarrollado en los últimos años. A través del estudio de este caso de manera profunda, se presenta la información recogida mediante entrevistas con expertos en ecodiseño del grupo Faurecia. Los resultados observados a nivel particular en Faurecia se refuerzan por los resultados empíricos realizados sobre empresas pertenecientes al sector que muestran que la orientación ambiental está influenciada, principalmente, por las características de la empresa. Para las empresas de automoción españolas, el estudio detectó que la proactividad ambiental al innovar viene determinada, principalmente, por el tamaño de las empresas, medido por las variables: ingreso total, inversión total, cantidad de inversión en I+D y el número deempleados en I+D y también, aunque menos, por la actividad formal en I+D (número de patentes) y la orientación de exportadora de la empresa. Así, las grandes empresas con mayor número de patentes y con presencia internacional son más propensas a ser medioambientalmente activas en actividades de ecodiseño y ecoinnovación y que son este tipo de empresas las que lideran la actividad y la orientación medioambiental en el sector del automóvil español. Por otra parte, aunque la reducción en el uso de la energía y de material también se han relacionado con la ecoinnovación ambiental, están muy influenciados por otras variables como el rendimiento económico, la estructura de costes o su situación financiera, por lo que no se pudo concluir nada al respecto. La investigación prosiguió explorando las características específicas de la industria automotriz frente al eco diseño y otras cuestiones ambientales relacionadas. Así, el siguiente artículo que conforma esta tesis doctoral, se planteó con el propósito de identificar los impulsores de la orientación ambiental de las empresas del sector del automóvil. En concreto, se analizó la importancia de la tipología de las fuentes de información procedentes del entorno (denominadas ¿de mercado¿; proveedores, clientes, competidores y consultores externos) para orientar eficazmente mejoras de productos y procesos como factores claves para determinar la orientación ambiental de las empresas del sector. Utilizando el paquete de software SmartPLS 2.0, el modelo de medición fue confirmado con suficiente fiabilidad y validez para todas las hipótesis. Además, el modelo estructural demostró que todos los coeficientes de la ruta fueron estadísticamente significativos. Los resultados de nuestro estudio, consistentes con trabajos previos, destacan cómo las actividades de eco-innovación están positivamente relacionadas con la innovación. Las empresas que se centran en productos y procesos cuando innovan son más eco-innovadoras que el resto. La consistencia de los resultados sugiere que las compañías que buscan, por una parte, una mayor flexibilidad operativa, aumentar la capacidad de producción, reducir los costes laborales unitarios o reducir el consumo energético por unidad cuando están buscando innovaciones están también más dispuestas a adoptar una orientación ambiental y, por otra, las empresas que se centran en el desarrollo de nuevos productos, en aumentar o sustituir la gama de productos, en aumentar la calidad del producto o en alcanzar una mayor cuota de mercado o nuevos mercados, son también más propensas a ser medioambientalmente más proactivas. / Paya Martinez, A. (2013). Estudio de la interrelación entre el eco-diseño y la eco-innovación e identificación de aspectos clave en la innovación sostenible en un sector industrial: aplicación al sector del automóvil [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/32830 / TESIS

Our research is based on data triangulation methodology by which we are going to answer the question with a combination of two elements: the design and development in combination with life cycle perspective according to ISO 14001:2015 and organization consider the life cycle perspective when they design and develop their products, in a modified form introducing many new aspects of life-cycle thinking. This Master’sthesis aims to discuss the Sustainability approach through the use of Environmental Management Standards (EMS), the results achieved by organizations that implement and certify those EMS, and a special focus on the current process of ISO 14001:2015 revision and the logic behind it. Revisiting the concept of Sustainability, the status of the International Organization for Standardization 14001, requirements that related to that life cycle perspective in ISO 14001:2015, eco-design, circular economy and its expected outcomes are discussed. The ISO 14001:2015 revision will have major impacts on the more than 300,000 worldwide certified organizations and on the many professionals that work with it. Analysis of the development of a sustainability portfolio within a globally-operating manufacturing company, we came different illustrate the kinds of life cycle work involved in dealing with activities and interests, connecting activities and interests into action-nets, performing life cycle practices, and spreading the life cycle idea. Finally, we discuss implications of life cycle work for research in the field of organization and management studies and questions related to the topic with quality engineers within the organization.

ISO 14001:2015 is a certifiable environmental management standard applicable to any enterprise, large or small, in all fields of manufacturing or trades and services. It is the updated version of the previous ISO 14001:2004 standard. The updated standard contains a new High Level Framework which is expected to be used in the future by all ISO management system standards. ISO 14001:2015 sets out to implement methodologies such as the environmental management system and prescribes certification criteria including environmental policy and goals, important environmental issues, pollution reduction and continuous improvement of environmental efficiency. This report starts by looking into the documentation regarding life cycle perspective in the context of the ISO 14001:2015 standard. The revised model adopts a holistic approach across the value chain and encourages companies to accept a "life cycle perspective" with regard to the product and service design and development process. The methodology of life-cycle assessment (LCA) is also explored. The report goes on to examine another important aspect in environmental management which is the concept of Design For Environment (DFE). More specifically it is examined whether adhering to DFE principles can also help companies to adapt to the ISO 14001:2015 requirements. The concept of sustainable development in the context of ISO 14001 was given due precedence and it was found that ISO certified organizations will have an implicit awareness of sustainability because of the way ISO 14001 is structured. Corporate sustainability strategies were also discussed and this shed more light into how companies can

Le concept de bioraffinerie, développé afin de se substituer aux ressources fossiles, vise à concevoir une grande variété de produits (carburants, matériaux, molécules plateformes pour la chimie fine…) en se basant sur la valorisation de ressources renouvelables telles que la biomasse végétale. La mise en place de bioraffineries doit se baser sur de nouveaux procédés, éco-conçus, afin d'optimiser la performance environnementale de la chaine de transformation de la biomasse. Néanmoins, l'écoconception de procédés émergents peut être complexe en raison des multiples configurations possibles et du manque important de données précises et spécifiques sur ces technologies. L’objectif de ces travaux vise donc à développer une méthode d’évaluation multiindicateurs pour l’éco-conception des procédés agro-industriels et de bioraffineries. La démarche générale consiste à coupler les domaines du Génie des Procédés et de l’Analyse du Cycle de Vie. En effet, la modélisation, à partir de modèles physiques ou semi-empiriques (notamment issus de plans d’expériences) puis la simulation de procédés sont utilisées afin de faciliter la phase de réalisation de l’inventaire du cycle de vie en obtenant des bilans matière et énergie détaillés. Ces bilans peuvent ensuite être utilisés pour effectuer une Analyse du Cycle de Vie prospective du procédé. Par itération, il est ainsi possible de réaliser de la prévision de données et de tester de nombreux jeux de conditions opératoires pour le procédé afin d’optimiser sa performance environnementale, en déterminant les conditions opératoires optimales et les opérations unitaires les plus respectueuses de l’environnement. Cette méthodologie et son outil associé ont été testés sur différents procédés de bioraffinerie,impliquant diverses biomasses : micro-algues, coproduits de culture de blé, bois / The biorefinery concept, developed to face fossil resources dependence, aims to design a wide variety of products (biofuels, materials, chemicals ...) based on the development of renewable resources such as plant biomass. The establishment of biorefineries must be based on ecodesigned processes to optimize the environmental performance of the biomass processing chain. Nevertheless, eco-designing innovative processes can be complex due to multiple configurations and the lack of related specific and reliable data. Thereby, the aim of this research work is to develop a multi-indicator evaluation method for the eco-design of agro-industrial and biorefinery processes. The general approach is based on coupling Process Engineering and Life Cycle Assessment fields. Indeed, process modeling, based on mathematical or semi-empirical models (notably resulting from designs of experiments) and process simulation are applied to facilitate the life cycle inventory step by predicting detailed mass and energy balances. Then these data can be used to perform a prospective Life Cycle Assessment of the process. By iteration, it is possible perform data prediction and to test several operating conditions sets for the process, to enhance its environmental performance, by determining optimal operating conditions and by identifying the most environmentally friendly unit operations. The methodology and its associated tool have been tested on different biorefinery processes, involving various biomasses: micro-algae, wheat coproducts and wood

Working toward a sustainable environment and society has never been as high a priority as it is today. Numerous studies worldwide have concluded that if no actions are taken, it will be too late to ensure the survival of future generations. Sustainability entails fundamental changes in the way organizations and societies have been working, the way products and services have been produced, and the way environment, economy and society have been interacting with each other. Design consultancies operate at the initial stages of product development and can contribute significantly to design and production of sustainable goods. This thesis aims to understand and identify how design consultancies can be an active part of a system transformation required to achieve sustainability. It is a case study carried out at a design consultancy Prevas AB in Uppsala, Sweden. Sustainability is a complex topic and its integration into business practices is seldom easy. The objective of the study is to assist design consultancies in addressing this challenge of integrating sustainability. A comprehensive literature review on sustainability, sustainable design practices, role of design consultancies in product development is presented. A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews is followed to understand the current situation in the market, the perception of sustainability by various stakeholders, and potential improvement areas. The thesis underlines the need and importance of making investments for integrating sustainability at design consultancies, along with some recommendations and practical suggestions to implement related practices. With an analytical approach, integrating sustainability at design consultancies is discussed as an innovation, and the business opportunities involved in adopting this innovation are identified. The results show that although design consultancies may not independently drive the sustainability in product development, they can surely play an important part in it and the current timeframe is critical for making related investments.

SammanfattningProdukter produceras idag i stor utsträckning för att tillfredsställa konsumenters behov varpåmiljöbelastningen eskalerar i takt med efterfrågan och produktionen som sker därefter. Lösningenpå problemet kan sammanfattas i ekodesign där miljöoptimering av produktutvecklingen skerutifrån ett helhetsperspektiv; råvaruutvinning, produktion, användning, återvinning, slutligtomhändertagande samt transporter.Teknik-konsultföretaget ÅF uppmärksammade detta problem hos svenska producenter ochstartade 2008 en intern sektion, EcoDesign center, som erbjöd sina kunder ekodesignrelateradetjänster. Utmaningarna och problemen hos kunderna har med tiden förändrats och för att centretska kunna erbjuda sina kunder relevanta tjänster, undersöks i detta arbete svenska producentersrelation till ekodesign idag.Syftet med arbetet har varit att kartlägga producenternas problem och utmaningar inommiljöanpassad produktutveckling och samtidigt utvärdera ÅF EcoDesign centers förutsättningaratt tillgodose sina kunder. Att utifrån denna kunskap komma med förbättringsförslag ochrekommendationer på hur centrets ekodesigntjänster kan optimeras har varit målet med arbetet.Resultatet visar att ekodesignarbetet inte är tillräckligt utbrett vilket främst beror på bristfälligefterfrågan av ekodesignade produkter. Kundefterfrågan är direkt kopplat till ekonomiskaincitament, företag drivs i vinstsyfte och utan en efterfrågan kommer ekodesignarbete inteimplementeras. Producenterna har inte insett eller förstått den ekonomiska potentialen medmiljöeffektiv produktutveckling och tror det är dyrt och tidsödande. En orsak till detta kan varabristen på enkla ekodesignverktyg, då de flesta existerande verktyg kräver experter.Kunskapsbristen är ett faktum, vilket producenterna själva ser som ett av de största hindren förimplementering av ekodesign i produktutvecklingsprocessen.ÅF:s EcoDesign center bör satsa på en inledande ekodesigntjänst som kartlägger vad för typ avekodesigntjänst deras kunder behöver hjälp med. Denna tjänst ska fungera som en inkörsport tillövriga ekodesignområden som EcoDesign center rekommenderas att satsa på i framtiden; PRS(Product Regulatory Support), strategi, eco screening, utbildning, tjänstedesign ochmarknadsföring. / Products are currently produced to satisfy customer needs to a large extent whereupon theenvironmental impact escalates due to the demand and production. A solution to the problemcan be summarized in the term eco design where the environmental optimization of a producthas a holistic perspective, including everything from raw material extraction, production, uses,recycling, disposal and transport.ÅF, a technology consulting firm, drew attention to this problem and started EcoDesign centerin 2008, an in-house section where they offered their customers eco design related services. Thechallenges and problems in their customers needs have changed over time and understandinghow the center should provide their customers with relevant service is investigated in this thesis.The aim of the thesis has been to identify producers’ problems and challenges with greenproduction and at the same time evaluate EcoDesign center's prerequisites to satisfy theircustomers’ needs. Based on this knowledge, the aim has been to come up with suggestions andrecommendations on how the center can optimize their eco design related services.The result shows that the eco design work is not sufficiently widespread, mainly due to a poordemand for eco designed products. Customer demand is directly linked to economic incentives,companies run for profit and without a demand an eco design work will not be implemented.Producers have not realized the economic potential of eco effective products and think it isexpensive and time consuming. One reason can be the lack of simple eco design tools, sinceexisting tools require expertise. The lack of knowledge is a fact, which the producers consider tobe one of the biggest obstacles to implement eco design in the product developing process.EcoDesign center should invest in an initial eco design service that identifies in which types ofeco design areas their customer needs help. This service will act as a gateway to other eco designservices offered at the center. In the future, EcoDesign center is recommended to focus on thefollowing, eco design related work; PRS (Product Regulatory Support), strategy, eco screening,education, service design and marketing.

The current wave of environmental awareness in the market has led to an increase of sustainability demands by the consumers. The focus of manufacturing companies has increasingly shifted from end-of-pipe solutions to the environmental performance of products and services. Companies find themselves in a situation where they must simultaneously create value for consumers and be profitable while considering environmental considerations. A case study is performed to explore this issue from the perspective of several eco-design tools. The existing product development process of a DECT communication device is investigated through the lens of eco-design. The theory looks into the apparent benefits and unforeseen difficulties, barriers and other factors in adopting an eco-design approach amongst companies, particularly SMEs. An eco-design audit comprising assessments on organisation capacity and potential for eco-design is carried out. This is followed by the creation and implementation of a comprehensive eco-design tool to generate a simple yet effective checklist for corporations with operational strategies for sustainable product design. Since changes in the product development and/or production to accommodate a higher level of sustainability cannot be easily or readily implemented, the framework functions as a guide of strategies within different time-scopes.

Increasing resource efficiency by utilising secondary raw material is one of the key characteristics of a circular economy. Textile dust fibre, a waste generated from textile mechanical recycling has the prospect to be utilised as secondary raw material for producing novel material: textile paper suitable for packaging and other applications. A comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of carrier bags made from one ton of virgin paper, recycled paper and novel textile paper (~22584paper bags with grammage of 100 g/m2 and same dimensions for all 3 types of bags) showed that textile paper bag is more environmentally friendly in terms of carbon footprint. The largest environmental contributors were energy consumed in the pulping and paper making processes, followed by the use of adhesives and printing ink in the conversion process of paper to papercarrier bags. A comparative Techno-economic Assessment (TEA) was carried out for the operating cost of producing the three selected carrier bag types. The analysis conveyed that textile paper bags are more economically attractive, mainly due to the partial substitution of paper fibre with low-cost textile dust fibre. Furthermore, a simple tool was developed with an attempt to assess and compare materials suitability for the circular economy considering life cycle thinking and business perspectives. Assessment of textile paper using the Circular material assessment tool indicated that there is still scope for improvement on the following circularity characteristics of circular material: scarcity of raw material, local supply of resources, clean and non-toxic resources. Textile paper material scored high in the following circularity characteristics: secondary raw material, industrial symbiosis, recycling, resource efficiency in manufacturing and use. In the final step, the textile paper bag was eco-designed through the combined and iterative LCA and TEA approach with the aim to achieve improved scores as a circular material. In order to understand the overall sustainability advantages and trade-offs, further research is recommended on different textile dust fibre grades as well as textile paper performance based on mechanical properties. It is also recommended to investigate textile paper in other applications like one time fashion clothes, reusable paper bags as textile hangers etc.