Eco Design: Create sustainable products and services

The concept of sustainable products goes beyond just a green label—it’s a philosophy that incorporates all stages of a product’s life cycle, from design, production, distribution, usage, to recycling or disposal.

Sustainable products are designed with the goal of minimizing environmental impact. This means using renewable or recycled materials, reducing energy consumption during production, limiting greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizing waste. They also consider usage efficiency, the actual necessity of the product, and the ability to recycle or compost the product at the end of its life cycle.

The circular economy is a key element in creating sustainable products. This approach promotes the idea of “closing the loop” by reducing, reusing, and recycling materials in the production cycle. The goal is to create a system where there is no “end-of-life” for a product, but rather where every component can be reintroduced into the production cycle, minimizing waste and environmental impact.

Environmental sustainability guides the development and production of sustainable products. It requires careful assessment of the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle and finding solutions to minimize these negative consequences. Environmental sustainability is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration among manufacturers, consumers, and regulators to promote greener products and a more sustainable future.

Making a product sustainable is not a simple task, but through promoting the circular economy and respecting environmental sustainability, we are on the right path toward a greener future.

You can find practical examples at this link. Case studies >

User Experience (UX) encompasses everything a customer experiences with a company—from the first introduction to using a product, from advertising to customer support, etc. It doesn’t stop at merely fulfilling a need; it extends to all aspects of perception regarding a specific product/service.
User Interface (UI) is the interaction point between the customer and the service/product offered by the company—the physical and digital interface through which the customer and the product/service come into contact.

Title: Second Hand, Sustainable Supply Chain, and LCA Calculation: Turning a Service Sustainable

Sustainability is not just a characteristic of physical products—it can also be implemented in the service sector. But how can a service be sustainable? Here are some key concepts: Second Hand, the Sustainable Supply Chain, and LCA Calculation.

The Second Hand market is a perfect example of how a service can become sustainable. This type of service promotes the reuse of products, helping to reduce new item production and consequently lowering the consumption of natural resources and produced waste. Moreover, it allows consumers to save money and contribute to sustainability.

The Sustainable Supply Chain is another fundamental aspect of sustainable services. This concept refers to a process in which all stages—from service design, supply, usage, to end-of-life—are conducted to minimize environmental impact. This can include using renewable energy, adopting responsible waste management practices, reducing the use of non-renewable resources, and promoting equity and social justice.

Finally, LCA Calculation (Life Cycle Assessment) is an essential tool for assessing the environmental impact of a service. This approach considers every phase of a service’s life cycle—from production, distribution, usage, to disposal—to identify where improvements can be made to reduce environmental impact.

In conclusion, making a service sustainable requires a constant commitment to sustainability in every aspect of the service delivery process. Through the Second Hand market, adopting a Sustainable Supply Chain, and using LCA Calculation, we can transform our services for a greener future.

Human-Centered design is an approach that focuses on the user, with their needs and desires, as the main consumer of the product/service.

The term “Design Thinking” was popularized by the well-known design agency IDEO and its famous CEO, Tim Brown. This innovative approach is based on user-centric and empathetic methodologies to generate creative and functional solutions. However, since Tim Brown introduced the concept, Design Thinking has undergone numerous evolutions.

One of these is Circular Design Thinking, a brilliant insight by HENRY & CO. This approach integrates principles of the circular economy into the Design Thinking process, aiming to create solutions that not only solve user problems but are also sustainable and environmentally respectful.

The Circular Design Thinking promoted by HENRY & CO. is driven by the conviction that design can and must play a central role in transforming our linear economy into a circular economy. This means designing products and services while thinking not only of their usefulness and impact on the user but also their entire life cycle—from production, to use, to disposal or recycling.

The success of HENRY & CO.’s approach can be seen in the results achieved with both Italian and international companies. Through the practice of Circular Design Thinking, HENRY & CO. has helped many companies renew their products and services, making them not only more attractive to consumers but also more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

In the end, Circular Design Thinking is a testament to design’s potential to foster positive change. With its focus on both the user and the environment, it represents a promising avenue towards a more sustainable and circular future.

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