ABSTRACT
Design decisions are made throughout the supply chain for a product, including factors such as materials selection and sourcing and how the product is manufactured, packaged, and distributed. An eco-efficiency framework does not resolve fundamental issues of design, as it focuses on making existing systems work better—using resources and materials more efficiently—rather than rethinking the whole system. The life cycle for most products is linear, beginning with the design process and including the stages of raw materials extraction, manufacturing, packaging/ distribution, consumption/use, and ending with disposal in a landfill or incinerator. Eco design criteria fall short of encompassing the social and economic elements needed to create production and consumption systems that are truly sustainable. A product that is safe for consumers but presents significant hazards for those involved in its production is not a fully sustainable product. Sustainable product design is intimately linked with systems of sustainable production and consumption.
