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EcoDesign

How we are ensuring that each successive generation of a product is more sustainable than the last!

Design for Sustainable Product Developments

“Sustainable innovation requires a proactive approach. Beyond performance in use, the environmental impact of a product should be considered as one of the leading criteria for success. At the very beginning of its development, in the ideation stage, the relative sustainable footprint needs to be evaluated at the same time as quality and technical performance. This requires a proven product development process called EcoDesign. With the EcoDesign approach we gather insights and estimations of the impact of raw material types and sourcing, production processes, product packaging and end of life scenarios in order to steer our product developments in the right direction.”

  • Daniela Saviello, Senior Specialist Development Engineer

Defining EcoDesign 

The future depends on how we act today. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, it is estimated that 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined during its design phase. We have therefore adopted EcoDesign principles to help guide the development of every new product and help us make each one more sustainable than the last.

Our EcoDesign methodology is a multi-disciplinary and criteria-based process which allows us to carefully consider the environmental impact of new products throughout their entire lifecycle – from concept and design to how they will be used and treated at their end of life. EcoDesign aims to develop products that have the best positive social, environmental, and financial impact. When it’s time for an update, we ensure each successive generation of a product is more sustainable than the last. This process also allows us to scrutinize the use of chemicals in our chemical products more strictly than what is required by law. 
 

Benefits of EcoDesign

There are ten key benefits to EcoDesign:

  • Manufacturing using fewer materials and lower energy to protect resources and reduce emissions

  • Using materials that can be easily identified, reused or recycled.

  • Using a single type of material or a biodegradable material, whether it be natural or derivative.

  • Maximising the product’s useful life

  • Designing products to have multiple uses, to be suitable for reuse, and to be produced with recyclable materials.

  • Considering product size to save material and fuel consumption during transportation and reduce CO2 emissions.

  • Optimising product efficiency and sustainability through technological innovations 

  • Consumers’ needs are met with more attractive products that satisfy an increasingly demanding public.

  • Companies benefit from innovation and become more committed to the environment.

  • Sustainable products have added value that gives companies a competitive advantage.

Source: What is Ecodesign?

 

A solution for every need and product

Sourcing responsibly is an important aspect of EcoDesign. It ensures that we carefully choose raw materials used in the design of our products that are reducing or removing toxins and VOCs, and increasing the use of renewable raw materials. Three examples are: 

  1. PVC-free products such as MPI 1405 & DOL 6460, which contain no chlorine, phthalates and other halogens and reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

  2. The new Organoid Natural Surfaces materials made from renewable sources

  3. MPI 8520 Wall Paper, made using Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified paper 

The impact of a product during its use phase is also taken into consideration within the EcoDesign methodology. A key example is our Architectural Solar Window Films designed to block UV and IR light. By reducing heat build up within a room, the workload on air conditioning systems is significantly reduced and in turn decreases energy consumption.

By incorporating the EcoDesign methodology within our innovation processes, we are considering our choices for each of the different aspects within the life cycle assessment and sustainability hierarchy and we ensure that we are designing our products in a more sustainable way for the future. 

We are committed to developing environmentally friendly products, and the percentage of our dedicated sustainability projects increases year on year. To find out more information on our commitment to Sustainability, you can visit our website and check out our sustainability brochure.