Page 259 - Design for Environment A Guide to Sustainable Product Development

CHAPTER 12

Transportation

Industries

Overview
The purpose of transportation systems is to satisfy the basic human
need for mobility, which is essential to the functioning of the global
economy and fundamental to human well-being. As democratic sys-
tems of government prevail and international trade barriers vanish,
freedom of movement has become recognized as a universal human
right. Each year, people travel trillions of miles to realize their per-
sonal and economic needs, while companies transport trillions of ton-
miles of freight to achieve efficiencies of specialization and scale.
Transportation covers a broad range of industries, including the
manufacture of vehicles and transportation equipment, the supply of
fuel and replacement parts, and the operation and maintenance of
roads, railways, airports, marine terminals, and transportation ser-
vices. Transportation systems, and the automotive industry in par-
ticular, have an enormous impact on both the economy and the
environment. As illustrated in Figure 12.1, the U.S. automotive indus-
try consumes billions of dollars worth of goods and services and
directly or indirectly creates about 13 million jobs [1]. The environ-
mental impacts of transportation systems are extensive and highly
visible, ranging from atmospheric pollution and greenhouse gas
emissions to the accumulation of solid wastes, such as tires and scrap
plastics from obsolete vehicles. Other adverse impacts include noise,
traffic congestion, and highway fatalities.
The rising awareness of sustainability concerns has led govern-
ment and industry leaders to address these environmental impacts.
Transportation industries are among the most highly regulated, with
requirements governing occupant safety, operator certification, equip-
ment inspection, hazardous material transport, fuel efficiency, and
many other issues. For example, the European Union’s End-of-Life
Vehicle Directive, described in Chapter 3, imposes responsibilities on
original equipment manufacturers for disassembly and recycling or

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