Page 32 - Design for Environment A Guide to Sustainable Product Development

Intr oduction 11

an acute awareness of the expectations of stakeholders. DFE is part
of a broader landscape in which companies continuously reexam-
ine emerging challenges and opportunities, identify critical drivers
of superior performance, evaluate the competitive position of their
products and processes, and pursue purposeful innovation to achieve
sustained excellence. Environmental, health and safety performance
is one of many considerations that are part of this strategic feed-
back loop. Other key characteristics of a successful and resilient
company include engagement with its key stakeholder groups, trans-
parency of its communications, diversity of its workforce and sup-
pliers, assur ance of ethical practices such as avoidance of child
labor, and contribution to economic development in the regions in
which it operates (see Chapter 20).

Using This Book
This book describes the basic principles of DFE and outlines the
steps necessary to make DFE an integral component in the design
and development of new products and processes. For those compa-
nies who see the wisdom of DFE and wish to embark on this path,
this book provides a guide to the design and development of envi-
ronmentally responsible products and processes. Consider it a road-
map to sustainable product development.
Part 1, Answering the Call, describes the emergence of corporate
environmental responsibility in the United States and abroad, includ-
ing the transition from regulatory compliance to corporate respon -
sibility and the broad range of voluntary initiatives sponsored by
government, industry, and nonprofit organizations. It focuses specifi-
cally on the external forces and business drivers that motivate adop-
tion of sustainability and DFE practices.
Part 2, Charting the Course, explains how DFE fits within the
broader paradigm of concurrent engineering for integrated product
development and life-cycle management. It sets forth the principles
and methodology for implementation of DFE, including life-cycle
thinking, performance metrics, design rules and guidelines, and sup-
porting analysis tools.
Part 3, Walking the Talk, consists of a series of chapters that describe
DFE practices in a variety of industries, ranging from basic commod -
ities to consumer products and services. Each chapter contains case
studies from several progressive companies in the United States and
abroad, describing their approach to DFE and the lessons that they
have learned.
Part 4 concludes with an examination of the global challenges
involved in the journey to environmental sustainability and discusses
how we can extend current DFE practices to meet these challenges.
The final chapter provides a concise summary of the entire book.