Eco-design
Eco-design (pronounced: eeko-dee-zine) is a design philosophy that incorporates environmental considerations into product design and development. The term is derived from the words "ecology" and "design", indicating a design approach that is mindful of ecological impact.
Definition
Eco-design is an approach to designing products with special consideration for the environmental impacts of the product during its whole lifecycle. In a life cycle assessment, the life cycle of a product is usually divided into procurement, manufacture, use, and disposal.
History
The concept of Eco-design was first proposed in the 1970s, during the first wave of environmental awareness. The idea was to create products that are not only functional and aesthetically pleasing, but also have minimal impact on the environment.
Principles
The principles of Eco-design include the reduction of energy and materials use, the use of renewable resources, the reduction of waste, and the minimization of environmental impact. These principles are applied at all stages of a product's life cycle, from design to disposal.
Related Terms
- Life Cycle Assessment: A technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life from cradle to grave.
- Sustainable Design: Designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of social, economic, and ecological sustainability.
- Green Design: Also known as environmentally sustainable design, green design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of ecological sustainability.
See Also
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