ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that integrated product policy is taken as covering all phases of a product life-cycle from the cradle to the grave. It therefore has the twofold objective of, first, developing, producing and marketing innovative and competitive products that are useful for customers and, second, reducing or eliminating the products' environmental impact over the course of their life-cycle. A corporate integrated product policy means that companies combine environmental protection aims with business aims and, further, meet public information needs: that is, develop high-quality products that have a corresponding market demand, cost-covering production and ensure the competitiveness of the company. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is therefore also an important issue for integrated product policy. CSR is a concept of the responsibility that companies have which takes up the idea of sustainability and connects the three pillars of economy, ecology and social affairs, above and beyond legal requirements, with actual corporate practice.
