ABSTRACT
This chapter examines an overview of the organisational issues associated with the management of eco-product development, drawing on the results of recent research and industry case studies. There are various definitions surrounding environmental considerations of products and services: ecodesign, green design, design for environment and sustainable product design. In transnational corporations ecodesign policy decision-making is likely to be centralised, and a key issue is the relationship between the head office, divisions and national subsidiaries. The shape of ecodesign or eco-product development depends on the company, its culture and its products and markets. To enable companies to improve the management of these issues, several companies are starting to link ecodesign activity to International Organization for Standardization 14001 and environmental management system development. In many firms environmental managers have weak relationships with those involved in the product development process, and designers and other business functions are unlikely to have received any form of environmental education.
