Purpose - This paper aims to investigate how green product design has been practiced within the Swedish furniture industry. Furthermore, to investigate how green product design can reduce the negative impact on the environment. Theoretical framework - The literature used to serve as a base for this paper includes some aspects concerning Green Supply Chain Management, but fundamentally concerns green or environmentally conscious design, motivators for designing „green‟ products, such as legislation, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), internal policy documents and/or green guidelines/certificates, innovation, competitiveness, economic performance, brand image and reputation, and others. Consequently, factors for product design itself were discussed, such as environmentally conscious design, efficient utilization of materials, minimizing waste, time and cost efficiency, types of materials used, etc. Moreover, sustainability aspects are considered vital, namely economic, social and environmental practices, as particular attention is paid to the economic and environmental aspects. Methodology - For the purpose of this research paper, (multiple) case studies were chosen to be implemented. One face-to-face, two telephone and two Skype/online interviews were conducted based on semi-structured interview questions. The data collected is from four companies, two of them preferred to remain anonymous, i.e. Office Furniture and Office Design, and the other two were Kinnarps and Skandiform. Findings - The empirical findings gathered for this research comply with the majority of theoretical data provided. A number of the most important and applicable green product design factors, and more specifically the aim of reducing negative environmental impacts, drive companies to implement environmentally conscious design, efficient utilization of materials, minimizing waste, costs associated, types of materials used, product safety, among many others. Furthermore, economic, social and environmental (overall regarded as sustainability for the purpose of this paper) factors are taken into consideration. Economic and environmental issues were mostly discussed and pinpointed as essential. Conclusions - Green product design should follow a number of important factors in order to reduce the negative impacts on the environment. It is essential to understand a company‟s motivation for designing green products. Nevertheless, such factors as well as economic aspects regarding green design should be complementing each other.

Humanity's activities increasingly threaten Earth's richness of life, of which mankind is a part. As part of the response, the environmentally conscious attempt to engineer products, processes and systems that interact harmoniously with the living world. Current environmental design guidance draws upon a wealth of experiences with the products of engineering that damaged humanity's environment. Efforts to create such guidelines inductively attempt to tease right action from examination of past mistakes. Unfortunately, avoidance of past errors cannot guarantee environmentally sustainable designs in the future. One needs to examine and understand an example of an environmentally sustainable, complex, multi-scale system to engineer designs with similar characteristics. This dissertation benchmarks and evaluates the efficacy of guidance from one such environmentally sustainable system resting at humanity's doorstep - the biosphere. Taking a holistic view of biomimicry, emulation of and inspiration by life, this work extracts overarching principles of life from academic life science literature using a sociological technique known as constant comparative method. It translates these principles into bio-inspired sustainable engineering guidelines. During this process, it identifies physically rooted measures and metrics that link guidelines to engineering applications. Qualitative validation for principles and guidelines takes the form of review by biology experts and comparison with existing environmentally benign design and manufacturing guidelines. Three select bio-inspired guidelines at three different organizational scales of engineering interest are quantitatively validated. Physical experiments with self-cleaning surfaces quantify the potential environmental benefits generated by applying the first, sub-product scale guideline. An interpretation of a metabolically rooted guideline applied at the product / organism organizational scale is shown to correlate with existing environmental metrics and predict a sustainability threshold. Finally, design of a carpet recycling network illustrates the quantitative environmental benefits one reaps by applying the third, multi-facility scale bio-inspired sustainability guideline. Taken as a whole, this work contributes (1) a set of biologically inspired sustainability principles for engineering, (2) a translation of these principles into measures applicable to design, (3) examples demonstrating a new, holistic form of biomimicry and (4) a deductive, novel approach to environmentally benign engineering. Life, the collection of processes that tamed and maintained themselves on planet Earth's once hostile surface, long ago confronted and solved the fundamental problems facing all organisms. Through this work, it is hoped that humanity has taken one small step toward self-mastery, thus drawing closer to a solution to the latest problem facing all organisms.

Scientific evidence of human impact on the natural environment, such as global warming, continues to mount. Green manufacturing systems that focus on minimizing environmental impact of manufacturing processes and products are ever more important to our sustainable future. Green manufacturing systems are slow to gain acceptance as manufacturers are focused on implementing Lean manufacturing systems, generally considered the most competitive manufacturing systems in the world. In recent years, researchers and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have sought to "build a bridge" between Lean and Green manufacturing systems, in hopes that the rapid expanse of Lean can serve as a catalyst to the implementation of Green manufacturing systems.This study contributes to this growing body of knowledge by determining if leading Lean manufacturers are transcending beyond the traditional limits of Lean and implementing Green manufacturing systems as part of their overallwaste reduction strategy. In this work Lean manufacturing plants that have been evaluated by a panel of experts from the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing are surveyed on the diffusion of Green manufacturing system practices throughout their operation. A full system correlation analysis is performed utilizing forty-eight measures of Lean and Green manufacturing systems under the categories of management system, waste reducing techniques, and results. Data analysis indicates that known Lean manufacturers are significantly Greener than the general population of manufacturers in twenty-five of twenty-six measures of Green manufacturing. Lean manufacturers who implement Green manufacturing systems have the strongest results in both Lean and Green result areas, particularly cost reduction, indicating synergy between Lean and Green manufacturing systems. Manufacturing plants that choose to vertically integrate versus horizontally integrate their Lean systems transcend to Green manufacturing. Mexican plants in the study practice significantly higher levels of material resource efficiency and are more inclined to develop industrial partnerships to resolve environmental issues. The study also identifies a critical need for integrating Lean and Green management systems to drive synergistic waste reducing techniques throughout the operation. An integrated Lean and Green manufacturing system model, dubbed "Zero Waste Manufacturing", is proposed as a solution for economically and environmentally sustainable manufacturing.

Environmental degradation and the possibility of natural resource reserve depletion, issues identified as a result economic and productive forces, have caused the rise and strengthening of pro-environmental movements. The environmentally conscious consumer, engaged to these movements, expresses concern in their environmental attitudes and hence in their buying behavior. The individual begins to search for products they believe cause less impact to the environment and value those whose inputs and processes come from environmentally responsible companies. The new consumption patterns become a central theme in a large number of researches that seek to explain and investigate the major changes in consumer behavior. The perception that the adoption of strategies aimed at these consumers is effective, leading to an increase in the number of false promises, which then lead consumers to be influenced by cynicism, questioning the legitimacy of the environmental problem. Still, social and cultural pressure for higher levels of consumption implies lower adoption of environmentally conscious behaviors, influencing the level of consumer materialism. The present study aims to investigate the impact of different variables on the adoption of environmentally conscious consumer behavior. Therefore, the adoption of this behavior was investigated from model based on the study by Cardigo (2008), who adapted the models of Roberts (1996) and Straughan and Roberts (1999). A survey was conducted on 334 respondents, among them students and employees of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. The main technique of data analysis was to Structural Equation Modeling. The model adapted from Cardigo (2008) was adequate in understanding the impact of cynicism and materialism on the environmentally conscious consumer behavior and showed good fit indexes in Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Of the ten proposed hypotheses, five were confirmed: materialism has a negative relationship with the environmentally conscious behavior. Furthermore, consumer perceived altruism and efficiency have power to moderate the relationship among cynicism, materialism, environmental concern and environmentally conscious consumer behavior. / A degradação ambiental e a possibilidade do exaurimento de reservas de recursos naturais, aspectos apontados como resultantes do modelo econômico e produtivo vigente, ocasionam o surgimento e o fortalecimento de movimentos pró-ambientalistas. Engajado a esses movimentos, o consumidor ecologicamente consciente manifesta a preocupação ambiental nas suas atitudes e, consequentemente, no seu comportamento de compra. O indivíduo passa a buscar produtos que acredita causar menor impacto ao meio ambiente e a valorizar aqueles, cujos insumos e processos, são provenientes de empresas ambientalmente responsáveis. Os novos padrões de consumo passam a ser tema central de um grande número de pesquisas que procura explicar e investigar as principais mudanças no comportamento do consumidor. A percepção de que a adoção de estratégias voltadas a esse público é efetiva, ocasiona o aumento do número de falsas promessas, o que leva o consumidor a ser influenciado pelo cinismo e questionar a legitimidade do problema ambiental. Ainda, a pressão social e cultural por maiores níveis de consumo acarreta menor adoção de comportamentos ecologicamente conscientes, influenciando o nível de materialismo no consumidor. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo investigar o impacto de diferentes variáveis na adoção do comportamento de consumo ecologicamente consciente. Para tanto, a adoção desse comportamento foi investigada a partir de modelo fundamentado no estudo desenvolvido por Cardigo (2008), que adaptou os modelos de Roberts (1996) e Straughan e Roberts (1999). Foi conduzida uma pesquisa do tipo survey, com 334 respondentes, dentre eles, alunos e servidores da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. A principal técnica de análise de dados foi a Modelagem de Equações Estruturais. O modelo adaptado de Cardigo (2008) mostrou-se adequado na compreensão do impacto do cinismo e do materialismo sobre o comportamento de consumo ecologicamente consciente e apresentou bons índices de ajuste na Análise Fatorial Confirmatória. Das dez hipóteses propostas, cinco foram confirmadas: o materialismo possui relação negativa com o comportamento ecologicamente consciente e o altruísmo e a eficiência percebida do consumidor possuem poder de moderação das relações entre cinismo, materialismo, preocupação ambiental e comportamento de consumo ecologicamente consciente.

In this era of environmental upheaval, this study sought clarity on the matter of green purchasing behavior. How the fashion industry’s specific impact on the environment has affected consumers' attitude towards companies and their collections. It was identified that customers have been requesting sustainable products from their retailers more and more and yet, a conscious willingness to help on the part of the consumer did not necessarily equate to purchasing more sustainable products.  The empirical part of the study was based on a quantitative research approach. The findings and data collection were obtained through an online questionnaire, generating responses from 40 individuals. Deductive reasoning was selected in this thesis as a scientific approach. The research has been done from the consumer's perspective. Furthermore, the collected data that created the hypothesis was analyzed and gathered from existing theories.  The conclusion of this research demonstrated that consumers did possess a willingness to be more conscious of their own climate change footprint by adapting green purchasing intentions such as buying less new clothes at present than 5 years ago. The findings indicated that consumer awareness did not necessarily result in a change in their green buying behavior. Finally, it was found that an unchanged position in consumers' green buying behavior would have been due to a lack of sustainable fashion alternatives readily available. The authors believe that further research is needed to shed light on the divide between consumers' attitude and actual purchasing behavior.

No description available.

Eco-design is relatively new and fast growing field of research due to its vital importance to the manufacturing industry and its related environmental issues such as reducing waste, and CO2 emission. A major EU programme relating to the environment is the waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. The (WEEE) directive specifies ten categories and a voltage range which is up to 1.000 volts AC or 1.500volts DC. The developed framework came for the implementation of Eco-design principles that helps to take into account the adaption of the (WEEE) directive and the restriction of hazard substances (RoHS) used in electrical and electronic equipments. As a result of identify gaps and needs such as a lack of a comprehensive Eco-design framework and the need to integrate it to the normal business operation. In this research the PDCA framework for Eco-design and WEEE directive will be discussed. The framework will encompass all of the Eco-design¿s implementation and integration factors and activities such as WEEE and RoHS directives, Eco-design management, Environmental legislations, Eco-design tools and considerations. The literature review covers the topic of Eco-design¿s related issues, and WEEE and RoHS directives rules. Based on comprehensive questionnaire survey of Eco-design, WEEE and RoHS issues and activities among a sample of environmentally aware companies, statistical analysis is carried out using SPSS software. Then the findings of the survey triangulated with the findings of the literature review formed the basis of the design and implementation plan of the proposed framework

Product tolerancing decisions made in product design have a significant effect on manufacturing environmental and cost performances by strongly influencing both the selection and operation of processing machinery. These decisions however are typically made without quantitative knowledge of their effects in manufacturing. With estimates of environmental and cost performances of manufacturing processes required to achieve specific part designs earlier in the product design cycle, designers may make more informed, and potentially better, design decisions with respect to manufacturing environmental and cost performance goals. In this thesis a method for quantifiably relating product tolerancing decisions to environmental and cost performances in manufacturing in order to provide decision support for cost and environmentally conscious design for manufacturing is developed. The method is instantiated as an Excel-based tool and exercised by two illustrative examples of increasing complexity, as well as a study of the manufacture of automotive transmission pinion gears with differing tolerance requirements. Uncertainty analysis is performed through the use of @RISK software; the uncertainty of parameters associated with manufacturing operations and machinery is captured through the use of probability density functions and Monte Carlo simulation is performed. Simulation results provide insight into the uncertainty of performance estimates and the risks associated with ensuing decision making. This method may be useful to product designers, as well as process planners, to support decision making efforts related to cost and environmental consciousness in the manufacturing phase of the product life cycle.

Traditionally, environmental impacts of man made products have been determined by performing a life cycle assessment (LCA) on the product. As the name implies, LCA is usually covers the entire life of the product in a so-called "cradle-to-grave" assessment. In determining environmental impacts over the whole product life, LCA's are reasonably adequate. However, in providing detailed impacts on a particular phase of life, LCA's are lacking. Detailed assessments are important because very few stakeholders have influence over a product during all phases of life. Stakeholders need detailed impact assessments in their particular phase of life. More detailed assessments give stakeholders more information that can be used for better environmental management (EM) and more environmentally benign operations. In many LCA's, the manufacturing phase of life has been over-generalized and over-simplified because of its relatively small environmental impact, as compared to other phases of life. Nevertheless, certain stakeholders, such as manufacturing companies, need detailed impact information for the manufacturing phase of life so that they can create a more sustainable manufacturing process. Most traditional LCA's use a case-based approach, which was deemed to be inadequate. For these LCA's, the information provided for each case is often quite detailed and specific. However, this makes the assessment less flexible, limiting the quality of the assessment to the degree that the current scenario matches the existing cases. In order to make a more user-specific assessment, a model-based approach was used. To give the model flexibility, a parametric model was created based on mathematical equations that represent various parts of the manufacturing process. To give the model structure, an activity-based costing (ABC) approach was used. Using the ABC structure, the manufacturing process was broken down into activities, each of which was characterized by mathematical models. Large models would be difficult to construct and simulate by hand, so a model was built with the aid of a computer. The modeling language SysML (Systems Modeling Language) was used to create an object-oriented model of the manufacturing process, using the ABC structure. SysML defines overall properties and behaviors of the various elements in the model, while the plug-in tool ParaMagic was used to execute the model via a Mathematica Solver. The model computes carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumption, and waste mass generation for a particular manufacturing scenario. The goal of the model was to quantify environmental impact factors in order to aid manufacturing stakeholders in EM. The overall goal of the research was to determine whether an activity-based, object-oriented model was a valid approach, and whether the computer-aided tools adequately implemented this approach. Findings show that SysML is capable of modeling large and complex systems. However, due to some limitations of Paramagic, only some of SysML's capabilities were utilized. Nevertheless, Paramagic is capable of extracting information out of a manufacturing model built in SysML, and solving parametric relations in Mathematica in a timely manner. Timely solutions of complex models are critical for stakeholders keeping a competitive edge.

Turistindustrin rankas som en av världens största, men även snabbast växande näringar. Näringens expansion bidrar i sin tur till stora miljömässiga konsekvenser. Mer miljövänliga, spårbundna transporter är i dagsläget aktuella forskningsfrågor och diskuteras i syfte att bromsa turismens negativa, miljömässiga effekter. Studiens syfte var att undersöka ungdomars intresse och attityder kring tåg i turistiskt syfte, samt om en antagen miljömedvetenhet påverkade deras val av resa. Interrail valdes som undersökningsobjekt dels då skribenterna fann ämnet aktuellt och dels på grund av EU-kommissionens investering som ska ge 18-åringar gratis Interrailpass i år. Interrail ansågs i enlighet med teorier vara ett alternativt, mer miljövänligt transportalternativ samt turismform. En kombination av kvantitativa och kvalitativa metoder har använts för att besvara studiens syfte och frågeställningar. Enligt valda teorier förekommer ett gap mellan turisters attityder och beteende där personliga värderingar och en miljömedvetennorm, som genomsyrade beteenden och konsumtionsmönster hemma, bortsågs vid val av resa. Resultaten från de sju personliga intervjuerna samt enkätundersökningen tyder på att intresset för tåg som transport i turistiskt syfte är relativt lågt, vilket eventuellt ger en förklaring till det relativt låga intresset för Interrail hos dagens ungdomar. Även bland organisationer tolkas Interrail besitta en låg position på marknaden. Företag är inte intresserade av att marknadsföra Interrail då det inte antas vara vinstdrivande. Intresset för Interrail är lågt där aspekter som tid, pris, bekvämlighet och upplevelse väger tyngre hos ungdomars turistiska val, där tågets miljömässiga fördelar snarare ses som en positiv bieffekt. Utifrån bristande kunskap och förutfattade meningar tolkar skribenterna Interrails comeback, trots EU-kommissionens ekonomiska investeringar, som svåruppnådd. / he tourism industry is ranked as one of the world's biggest and fastest growing industries, which in return contribute to big environmental consequences. More environmentally friendly, railway bound transportation are current research questions and are discussed to prevent the negative effects of tourism. The purpose of the study was to research adolescents interest and attitude towards train for touristic purposes and if their perceived environmental awareness affected their choice of travel. Interrail was chosen as a research object partly because the authors considered it a current topic and partly because of the investment that the EU-commission made to be able to give 18-year olds free Interrailpasses this year. Interrail was in accordance with the theory perceived to be a more environmentally friendly choice of transportation and form of tourism. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used to answer the purpose and questions of the study. From the chosen theories there appears to be a gap between tourists attitudes and behaviour, where personal values and the environmental norm that existed at home, was disregarded when choosing to go on a trip. The results from the 7 personal interviews and the questionnaire shows that the interest for train as transport for touristic purposes is relatively low, which could give an explanation for the lacking interest for Interrail in today's adolescents. Even among companies Interrail is interpreted as having a low position on the market. Companies aren't interested in marketing Interrail due to its low perceived economic profit. The interest for Interrail is low where aspects such as time, price and experience weighs heavier for adolescent’s touristic choices, where the environmental benefits are merely seen as a positive bi-product. From a lack of knowledge and preconceptions the authors interpret Interrails comeback, despite the financial investments from the EU-commission, as hard to achieve.