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Hello!

I am writing my diploma thesis on green manufacturing strategies. It is quite an interesting topic however there are some issues which keep me from progressing.

Do you know or do you know any source which explains whether eco-design and DFE are synoyms or what the difference between these terms is.

Further, how are eco-design/DfE and product stewardship related?? Researching the literature I got several impressions:

1. Ecological/ Sustainable design forms part of the product stewardship programm. Thus, if a company looks at a the entire life-cycle of a product, it considers design issues as well.

2. Eco-design / DfE can be performed in isolation, hence they do not need to be included in a product stewardship programm.

3. Product stewardship does not include eco-design/DfE issues, but describes rather, that a manufacturer takes responsibility for its products which he sells. Thus, he rather considers the taking back of products at the end of their lives and/or recycling and reuse.

I would be glad if you would have any other opinions or contrary views to figure out this issue.

Another interesting aspect which I want to suggest: Which of these advanced green manufacturing strategies are more sustainable?? If you follow 1., the approach of a company is more sustainable if they perform a product stewardship programm instead of only claiming eco-design of their products? What do you mean?

Thanks for your responses!!

A.Green

Potentially further reading of interest - Chemistry Innovation KTN pulled together a Sustainable Design Guide to help companies in the "chemistry using industries". It looks at issues including life cycle analysis and where to draw boundaries on product stewardship etc.

see www.chemistryinnovation.co.uk/sdg for further information.

Also, worth following www.twitter.com/pittso and www.twitter.com/miller_klein who wrote most of the guide.

Obviously the chemicals industry underpins other manufacturing sectors, which means you can have a great influence with innovations made at this stage in the manufacturing process, but with products ending up in a large number of different end markets it's also difficult to draw the boundaries on product stewardship.