ECODESIGN online PILOT

Checklist for ECODESIGN analysis

Product

Is assembly of the product simple, and does the design show a hierarchical structure?
  
  
How many components have to be connected for assembly? Would a hierarchical structure simplify assembly?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 )
yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )

P = R * F
Measure Ensure simple assembly through hierarchical structure of product
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less
because
Feasibility
difficult
easy
because
Action
at once
later
never
Responsibility
Deadline


Is assembly simple and does the product consist of only a minimum of components?
  
  
What does the assembly process look like? Would minimizing the diversity of components make assembly simpler?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 )
yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )

P = R * F
Measure Ensure simple assembly by reduction of parts used
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less
because
Feasibility
difficult
easy
because
Action
at once
later
never
Responsibility
Deadline


Is there an efficient collecting system for product take back?
  
  
How can the product be conveyed from the consumer back to the manufacturer? What requirements are involved for the consumer? Can he meet them? How could these requirements be reduced?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 )
yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )

P = R * F
Measure Create new or use existing collection system
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less
because
Feasibility
difficult
easy
because
Action
at once
later
never
Responsibility
Deadline


Are return rates for the product relatively high?
  
  
What incentives for the consumer could increase return rates?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 )
yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )

P = R * F
Measure Ensure high return rate
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less
because
Feasibility
difficult
easy
because
Action
at once
later
never
Responsibility
Deadline


Is there the possibility for adequate testing and measuring of components of the product with a view to refurbishing?
  
  
What components may/should be reused? How can these components be tested for refurbishing? What measures are necessary to provide for adequate testing and measuring?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 )
yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )

P = R * F
Measure Provide for testing and measuring devices for the refurbishing of components
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less
because
Feasibility
difficult
easy
because
Action
at once
later
never
Responsibility
Deadline


Is there sufficient overmeasure of material with a view to refurbishing and reusing individual components?
  
  
What components may/should be reused? Can components be conditioned for potential reuse? How are product life and service life of individual components related, how often will structural parts have to be reworked? What is the required overmeasure of material?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 )
yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )

P = R * F
Measure Provide for overmeasure of material with a view to the reuse of components
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less
because
Feasibility
difficult
easy
because
Action
at once
later
never
Responsibility
Deadline


Is the product and/or its components adequately labeled to indicate remaining service life for the purpose of refurbishing?
  
  
What data are needed to determine the remaining service life? Can these data be collected and indicated on components, what is the magnitude of uncertainty? How can a durable and reliable labeling be realized?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 )
yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )

P = R * F
Measure Label components to indicate remaining service life
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less
because
Feasibility
difficult
easy
because
Action
at once
later
never
Responsibility
Deadline


Does cleaning of the product and its components (for reuse) require only minimum work input, and are surfaces resistant to bear cleaning?
  
  
What type of soiling are the components exposed to, how can susceptibility to soiling be reduced? How can dirt be removed, and how can design facilitate cleaning?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 )
yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )

P = R * F
Measure Ensure ease of cleaning for reuse of components
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less
because
Feasibility
difficult
easy
because
Action
at once
later
never
Responsibility
Deadline


Are elements, parts, and assemblies of the product standardized to facilitate simple reuse of components?
  
  
What elements/parts/assemblies can be used in what products? Where could standardized elements, parts with standardized fitting dimensions make reuse of components simpler?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 )
yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )

P = R * F
Measure Use standardized elements, parts, and components for easy reuse
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less
because
Feasibility
difficult
easy
because
Action
at once
later
never
Responsibility
Deadline


Are parts of the product reused in other products or does the product (partly) consist of refurbished and reused components from other products?
  
  
What parts can not be reused but are too valuable for mere recycling of materials or to be treated as waste? What are the properties of these parts, how could they be used in other products? Is there a demand for these parts? What measures at the level of design could improve the opportunities of continued use?
Relevance (R) Fulfillment (F) Priority (P)
very important ( 10 )
less important ( 5 )
not relevant ( 0 )
yes ( 1 )
rather yes ( 2 )
rather no ( 3 )
no ( 4 )

P = R * F
Measure Reuse of components in other products
Idea for
Realization
Costs
more
same
less
because
Feasibility
difficult
easy
because
Action
at once
later
never
Responsibility
Deadline



Approach to assessment:
  1. Relevance:
    Rate the relevance of the assessment question with a view to your product. (10...very important for my product; 5...less important for my product; 0...not relevant for my product).
  2. Fullfilment:
    Estimate the fulfilment of the assessment questions using one of the four possible answers (yes / rather yes / rather no / no); the additional questions support understanding of the assessment question and need not be answered.
  3. Priority:
    Select ECODESIGN tasks with high priority (P) and continue only with these.
  4. Idea for Realization:
    Find ideas to realize these ECODESIGN tasks. The content of the learning part with its examples shall assist you in doing that.
  5. Feasibility:
    Evaluate the feasibility of the suggested ideas (difficult / easy).
  6. Costs:
    Compare the costs of the new ideas with a reference situation (higher / same / lower) and give reason for that.
  7. Action:
    Decide when to carry out the ECODESIGN tasks (at once / later / never) and determine the person or department that shall be in charge of further steps in the realizing the product improvements and fix a deadline.
  8. Save:
    Save the checklist to document the ECODESIGN assessment.

 

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Ensure simple assembly through hierarchical structure of product

A hierarchical structure of the product can simplify assembly, and reduce the necessary work input. In addition, this minimizes disassembly time, which is a crucial criterion for the cost benefit ratio of refurbishing.


Ensure simple assembly by reduction of parts used

Reducing the diversity of components makes assembly simpler and minimizes work input. Simple assembly/disassembly and minimization of the number of components improve reparability of the product at use stage. In addition, this reduces disassembly time, which is a crucial criterion for the cost benefit ratio of refurbishing.


Create new or use existing collection system

Taking back the product after the use stage is one of the prerequisites for refurbishing and reusing parts and components; the same applies to the correct disposal of hazardous materials such as substances found in refrigerators. An efficient collecting system that does not ask an unreasonable effort on the part of the end user will be an incentive to return the product. High return rates, in turn, are a prerequisite for economically feasible refurbishing. Therefore, product take back should be realized within the framework of existing or newly established collecting systems.


Ensure high return rate

High return rates ensure that only a small portion of the products leaves closed cycles and becomes waste. The major part – in ideal cases 100% - is returned to the producer who disassembles the product, refurbishes and reuses parts, recycles materials, and disposes of hazardous substances in an environmentally acceptable way. The higher the return rate the greater the benefit for the environment, and, what is more, the higher the economical efficiency of the overall process of refurbishing and/or recycling. Therefore, it would be in the best interest of the environment (and of the manufacturer) to create incentives for consumers to return the product after use.


Provide for testing and measuring devices for the refurbishing of components

As reuse does not destroy the structure of components nor impairs the quality of materials this approach to the after-use stage represents the highest value. In order to be able to decide whether a structural part may be reused as such or whether it has to be recycled (thus yielding less value) adequate testing and measuring procedures are required.


Provide for overmeasure of material with a view to the reuse of components

In order to achieve maximum benefit with the resources used, design should aim at a long useful life of the components of the product so they can be refurbished and reused. Components that are exposed to wear or deformation through use of the product need sufficient overmeasure of material for reworking if they have to meet certain requirements such as precise concentricity, an precise flatness or a special surface finish.


Label components to indicate remaining service life

In refurbishing a product the probable remaining service life will determine whether or not a component is suitable for reuse. In order to avoid (usually expensive) testing and measuring procedures adequate labeling can indicate the approximate remaining life of a component. This approach is particularly reasonable with components that are exposed to known loads and wear or have a clearly defined service life.


Ensure ease of cleaning for reuse of components

Usually, parts and components have to be cleaned prior to reuse. Efficient refurbishing requires minimum expenditure for cleaning – concerning time input, consumption of cleaners, etc. Designing a product for easy cleaning means, for instance, to avoid cumbersome and inaccessible corners or edges. It is most important that surfaces bear cleaning; scratches etc. would cause premature disposal of the component.


Use standardized elements, parts, and components for easy reuse

Reuse of components is the most desirable form of recycling because structures are not destroyed and a great part of the value is conserved in the respective component. This increases the overall proportion of reused components and conserves resources. Using standardized elements, parts with standardized fitting dimensions, etc. considerably simplifies reuse, especially if minor modifications have been realized in the production process.


Reuse of components in other products

Reusing parts in other products also conserves a high value in the component as its structure is not destroyed. Minor adaptations or reworking of parts that can not be directly reused make them suitable for use in other products. The windows of scrapped washing machines could be used as decorative glass bowls.