ABSTRACT

Rohner developed ‘eco-controlling’—a quantitative assessment of each product’s overall environmental impact—for all its products to promote a long-term focus on ecological product development for the entire product line, enabling the research and development department to focus more on environmental issues. Rohner had to support the development of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) ‘index of sustainability’ design tool, measuring environmental strengths and weaknesses. Since 1980 the European textile industry has suffered an enormous decline, particularly in Germany and Switzerland. A large number of companies closed their businesses because severe competition drove prices downwards. Even with the environmental optimisation associated with Climatex® Lifecycle, the production process still generates solid waste. The development of a compostable, environmentally sound upholstery fabric presented a perfect opportunity to demonstrate a redesign process. In 1998 Designtex supported the development of a new design tool to improve the environmental soundness of products—an ‘index of sustainability’—for items designed by MBDC.