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Title Some pervasive challenges to sustainability by design of electronic products - a conceptual discussion
ID_Doc 29724
Authors Laurenti, R; Sinha, R; Singh, J; Frostell, B
Title Some pervasive challenges to sustainability by design of electronic products - a conceptual discussion
Year 2015
Published
DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.08.041
Abstract Sustainability should encompass responsibility for unintended environmental consequences of modern developments. This study examined some pervasive challenges to sustainability by design of electronic products, namely: (i) product and consumption redundancies; (i) embodied environmental and social impacts occurring distant in time and space from the point of consumption; and (iii) production and consumption dynamics. This analysis identified essential developments in certain areas that can assist design practice in preventing unintended environmental consequences. These were: (1) complementing life cycle assessment studies with analyses of unintended environmental consequences; and (2) exploiting the vital role of product design in fostering a circular economy. Indicators that provide information about (a) the increasing spatial and decreasing temporal separation of production, consumption and waste management, (b) constraints in raw materials supply and (c) marginal changes in money and time spent should be available to product designers and consumers. Furthermore, information technology, namely computer-aided design (CAD) tools, should be refined to assist product designers in designing for effective circularity and end-of-waste and limiting hibernation of resources in the use phase. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Author Keywords Sustainability; Design; Challenges; Unintended consequences; Electronic products; Rebound effects
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000367762500026
WoS Category Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences
Research Area Science & Technology - Other Topics; Engineering; Environmental Sciences & Ecology
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