ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces nine industrial case studies from product, furniture and packaging design, which demonstrates how small changes to products can result in improved environmental performance. Miele GmbH is a German manufacturer of high quality domestic appliances, commercial equipment and fitted kitchens that have a strong record on sustainability. Designed and manufactured in Italy by Sarda Acque Minerali SpA, the Eco Bottle is a 1.5 litre plastic bottle made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). All the required information can be embossed directly on the bottle by a laser machine. The case studies outlined represent only a small proportion of the mainstream products which are now on the market from companies such as Philips, Hewlett Packard, Apple, Russell Hobbs, Miele, and Blueline to name but a few. They provide a powerful demonstration of the progress that has been made in this arena and illustrate how a life cycle approach can lead to effective incremental improvements, and innovative and competitive products for manufacturers.
