ABSTRACT
Sustainability poses many challenges and opportunities for business. If governments or societies as a whole take action or move towards lifestyles and technologies that contribute to sustainability, this will have profound implications for all stakeholders at both a local and a global level. Companies are particularly struggling with the implications of the ‘soft side’ of the sustainable as an integrated business sustainability model is yet to be developed. Product design professionals are responsible for designing profitable products that meet the needs of users and producers of products. Ecodesign and design for environment are terms for strategies that aim to integrate environmental considerations into product design and development. Sustainable product development and design looks to minimise adverse sustainability impacts and maximise sustainable value throughout the life-cycle of the product, building or service. Some argue that the key to many sustainability problems lies in developing new technologies that contribute to, rather than threaten, sustainability.
