ABSTRACT
In order to reach the target of a tenfold increase in the average eco-efficiency, more far-reaching, innovative improvements of production techniques are required. When methods and instruments are available to identify and select promising eco-efficient product design strategies, the next question is how to embed environmental issues within the business organisation in a structural way. This chapter deals with this question on the basis of the experiences gained within Philips Sound & Vision and discusses how the efforts to integrate environmental issues into product design strategies relate to developments in environmental management systems. More than most national and regional standards on environmental management systems, the International Organisation for Standardisation 14000 series stresses the importance of product-oriented objectives and supportive tools. Most companies that have already made efforts to improve their environmental performance can no longer obtain high environmental benefits from incremental improvements. However, after initial costs have been incurred, the new but radical changes may lead to substantial cost reductions.
