Ecodesign

This certification determines the percentage of real recyclability of the packaging through an analysis of the characteristics of the product and the technologies applied in the waste recovery plants. Different companies in the cluster have been able to benefit from the information obtained during...

Why are more than 100 companies ecodesigning in the Spanish Basque region? Why is it expected that these companies ecodesign products to reach 7.000 milion €/year turnover by 2020? A 20 years public-private partnership is the answer. The early adaption of EU Product and Ecodesign Policies has been...

Consumers are fully aware of companies deliberately reducing the useful life of products through planned or built-in obsolescence, along with its negative impact on the environment. Extending the lifetime and durablility of products is essential to optimise the use of resources and minimise waste...

When low impact is a very good thing Biodiversium visitor centre in Luxembourg houses permanent exhibitions on environmental topics The wooden building was designed as a part of the redevelopment of an old brownfield site and built to fit into the landscape A good example of eco-architecture which...

Top of the class A municipal housing company used requirements of the Nordic Ecolabel to support building design for decreased carbon footprint and environmental effects The design incorporated several measures including better insulation, use of recycled materials and demand control automation for...

A better 'grada' of plywood for eco-design An ecological thermos-formable plywood material is made for ecological designs Benefits of the material include a faster manufacturing process and opportunities for new kinds of designs UPM Plywood is the leading plywood supplier in Europe, with production...

Pre-consumer textile waste in the cloth manufacturing sector is currently estimated at around 20 %. However, research suggests this figure could be much higher if all cutting scraps, production rejects (not meeting quality standards) and unsold items are taken into consideration. Global brands, the...

Welcome ... to recycled rubber mats Welcome mats using recycled rubber, as good as new but 10-15 % cheaper to make Circular economy player before the notion existed The Belgian firm Verimpex has been an important player in the circular economy before the concept even existed. For the past 30 years...

Eyeing off the future in glasses Inspiration led to eye-wear frames made in metal and plastic using 3D printing Unique and tailored designs are possible Unprecedented material efficiency; almost no waste, no stock... A few years ago, the designer Patrick Hoet read about pioneering developments using...

Heart and soul of green packaging Packaging specialist worried about large volumes of sludge containing reusable fibres New egg carton design leads to reduced waste and annual savings of € 20 000 Cemosa, located in Atxondo (Bizkaia, the Basque Country) produces moulded cellulose packaging, mainly...

Safer labs, better environment! Lab specialist uses LCA and ecodesign principles to improve its production efficiency Analysis showed where material savings could be made and parts removed to cut costs € 54 040 in aluminium and steel materials saved annually in its EPD-certified fume cupboard...

Putting a lid on energy losses Spanish firm discovers a whole world of ways to save energy, materials and costs Its resulting measures earn it a prize at the European Business Award for the Environment Ramondín Cápsulas produces several types of lids and caps for a range of products including tin...