Page 396 - Design for Environment A Guide to Sustainable Product Development

Summary 371

building on the success of the Prius. DuPont pioneered a
water-based automotive paint system that has been adopted
by Volkswagen.
Chapter 13: Chemical Industries. Chemical manufacturers have
®
adopted the rigorous Responsible Care code and are emphasiz-
ing the practice of “green chemistry” for sustainable product and
pro cess development.
Examples: Dow Chemical is planning to manufacture poly -
ethylene from sugar cane in Brazil and has developed an
award-winning, bio-derived “green” insecticide. DuPont has
integrated sustainable growth into its business models and
corporate goals. BASF developed an eco-efficiency analysis
methodology to assess the ecological and economic benefits
of new products.
Chapter 14: Medical and Pharmaceutical Industries. Medical
and pharmaceutical companies have also adopted green chem -
istry practices. Health Care Without Harm, a nonprofit, has been
influential in promoting environmentally conscious practices, such
as green hospital buildings.
Examples: Johnson & Johnson established a Healthy Planet
Initiative that includes application of DFE across all its
divisions. Baxter International performs systematic product
sustainability reviews and has implemented product take-
back programs. Eli Lilly uses Lean Six Sigma to improve
environmental performance, and has developed sustainable
packaging for insulin pen devices.
Chapter 15: Food and Beverage Industries. Consumers are
particularly sensitive about food and beverage products, and the
industry is working on reducing the material and energy inten-
sity of its products and packaging.
Examples: Coca-Cola has been pursuing major initiatives
in water stewardship, sustainable packaging, closed-loop
recycling, and climate-friendly refrigeration. ConAgra has
introduced a number of packaging innovations. General
Mills has adopted aggressive environmental performance
goals. Unilever has worked on responsible sourcing and
packaging in developing economies.
Chapter 16: Consumer Products Industries. Companies with
strong consumer brands have integrated DFE into product develop-
ment and frequently incorporate environmental claims into their
marketing efforts.
Examples: Kimberly-Clark has established a DFE initiative
and has used life-cycle assessment to improve the design of
products such as baby wipes. Procter & Gamble has focused