Page 129 - Design for Environment A Guide to Sustainable Product Development

108 Cha pte r Se v e n

As mentioned above, there are several alternative uses for envi-
ronmental performance metrics, and different types of metrics may
be preferable for each use:
• Performance tracking metrics are used internally to increase
productivity and to assure that both product and enterprise
objectives are fulfilled.
• Decision-making metrics are used to evaluate competing options
(e.g., product designs) when performance factors in addition
to cost must be considered.
• External reporting metrics are used to communicate improve-
ments in product or enterprise performance to customers and
stakeholders.
Environmental performance measurement systems may address
any or all of these uses. Because of the obvious data management
challenges, modern information technology is an essential tool for

Examples of Specific
Goals Examples of Metrics Objectives
Reduce or • lb. of emissions over • Reduce life-cycle emis-
eliminate waste the life cycle sions by 30% annually
• % of product weight • Reduce solid waste
disposed of in landfills disposed of to 1 lb. per
product unit
Develop • % of product weight • Achieve 95% recycling
“green” recovered & recycled • Eliminate use of bromi-
recyclable • toxic or hazardous nated compounds
products constituents
Reduce • manufacturing cost • Reduce total life-cycle cost
life-cycle • distribution and to $7,500 per product unit
cost of support cost • Reduce end-of-life cost (or
product increase value) by 20%
• end-of-life cost
Cost of • annualized purchase • Must be less than $500
ownership for and operating cost ($) per year
customers
Conserve • total energy (BTU) to • Reduce to 1000 BTU
energy produce one unit • Reduce by 10% annually
consumption • average power use • Power less than
over the life (for devices) 30 watts
cycle
Conserve natu- • % by weight of prod- • Achieve 20% or greater
ral resources by uct materials from total recycled content
raising the re- sources • Achieve 30% recycled
cycled content plastics

TABLE 7.1 Selected Environmental Goals and Corresponding Metrics