Study 32 – Eco-design of industrial processes

This study explores eco-design in industrial processes, highlighting the various approaches and levels of application involved in this approach. Its main objective is to provide a detailed overview of the current state of the art in methods available for mitigating the impact of industrial sites and their manufacturing processes.

Carried out by the Eco-design Unit, this study draws on industry expertise, discussions with manufacturers committed to environmental practices, and a review of scientific articles

Eco-design is an approach that aims to reduce the environmental impacts of a system (product, service or organisation) throughout its life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials right through to the end of its life.

Whilst eco-design has historically been associated with a product-centred approach (“product approach”), it can also be applied to a company as a whole, taking into account all its products, services and processes. This is known as the organisation-wide approach, which considers environmental impacts in a holistic manner. This approach can be implemented through the establishment of an Environmental Management System (EMS).

The choice of the most appropriate approach must be based on an assessment phase to identify the environmental issues specifically linked to the site’s industrial activities. Once this assessment phase has been completed, and in order to facilitate the consideration of environmental issues, companies can then opt for one of the two approaches.