Page 157 - Design for Environment A Guide to Sustainable Product Development

136 Cha pte r Ei g h t

• Reduce excess inventory—holding unnecessary inventory
requires extra resources and can lead to product spoilage and
waste. Lean process design and just-in-time techniques can
help to streamline inventory, although going too lean can
actually threaten business continuity (see Section D.3, Design
for Economic Capital).
• Reduce fugitive emissions—Improved design of chemical
containment, piping, and exhaust recovery systems such as
ventilation hoods can significantly reduce the amount of
losses or leakages of liquids and vapors. Often these emis-
sions can be cycled back into the process, thus increasing
efficiency while reducing human exposure (see Section D.1,
Design for Human Capital).

Life-Cycle Waste Stream Reduction
Waste is generated throughout the life cycle of a product, from sourc-
ing and manufacturing to customer use to end-of-life. The actual
waste associated with the discarded product at end-of-life may be
only a fraction of the waste generated by the manufacture, use, and
disposal of a product. Thus, the investigation of opportunities for
toxic and hazardous release reduction can encompass a variety of
processes in the supply chain, many of which are beyond the control
of the manufacturer. Practicing product stewardship means making
an effort to collaborate with both suppliers and customers and to
redesign supply chain processes in ways that enhance business and
environmental performance. Examples range from supplier collabo-
ration in chemical management to consumer initiatives such as bat-
tery recycling. By considering waste reduction opportunities during
product design, engineers are able to minimize harmful wastes and/or
maximize the value extracted from waste materials.
Example: The Suppliers Partnership for the Environment is an innovative
partnership between automobile original equipment manufacturers and their
suppliers, co-sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Through focused work groups, these companies collaborate to reduce their
energy use and their environmental footprint, and to provide technical assistance
to small and medium-sized businesses in the automotive supply chain.

B.2 Design for Hazard Reduction
An alternative to reducing the volume of toxic and hazardous sub-
stances released is to redesign products and processes so that the
presence of such substances in waste streams is minimized. Applying
DFE can help reduce the burden of compliance and reporting require-
ments, while also identifying opportunities for cost-effective design
changes that reduce the potential exposure and risk pathways for
humans or the environment.