150 Mathieu Petiteau, the newbuilding and R&D director at Ponant, is among a group of buyers championing the use of recycled materials. “Incorporate materials from a recycling channel into your product,” he urges. “The aim is that the final product should eventually be made from 100 per cent recycled materials.” Odigitria Ventouri, the head of marketing at Innovation Lounges, agrees and encourages adding more renewable materials into the product material mix. An environmental product declaration will verify the volume of recycled and renewable material used and is an easy measure for buyers. Industry stalwart Hans Lagerweij, emphasises the need to ensure that products are healthy. “Opt for products free of harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds or flame retardants that can pollute indoor air and harm human health,” he says. “Look for certifications like Greenguard or Oeko-Tex Standard 100.” Respondents were unanimous that problems with packaging could be resolved through the use of recycled and recyclable packaging materials. Regulatory change in many geographies is forcing a new approach that will variously ban single-use plastics and require 100 per cent of packaging to be recyclable, compostable or reusable. Sustainable product use Designing products to last yields multi-dimensional benefits, according to Dansk Wilton’s Ditmer. She says: “Choose a high-quality product that has a long life span and keep the product in the first lifecycle for as long as possible. This is also better than changing the product after a short lifecycle just because it can be recycled.” She also points out that lifespan isn’t just about material quality: “Lighter colours are more sensitive to wear and tear so even though a product per definition has a long lifespan this might be compromised by other factors.” Magicman chief executive Mark Henderson knows a thing or two about repairing products: “We used microfiche in the Royal Navy that showed a diagrammatic breakdown of each item and part numbers so you didn’t have to replace a whole chair, for instance, but could simply order two worn out replaceable armrests.” Supply chain managers should explore how component parts can be used. Modular construction means easily replaceable FEATURE Group Criteria Scope Measure Design Carbon footprint Trusted Lifecycle Assessment analysis of product design through every stage of life? Yes/no Social design Trusted Social Lifecycle Assessment that evaluates socioeconomic impact? Yes/no Design for value Designed to a verified minimum quality standard at acceptable price point Product cost Weight reduction Designed to optimise product weight for aesthetic and functional needs Weight Rethink and reduce Design for multifunctional use and with less natural resources? Yes/no Manufacturing Carbon footprint Certified full lifecycle carbon footprint data disclosing total greehouse gas emissions CO2e Healthy product Certified full ingredient disclosure with no toxic, restricted or otherwise harmful content? Yes/no Recycled material High and known percentage (by weight) of recycled material used in the product Percentage Renewable material High and known percentage (by weight) of renewable material used in the product Percentage Sustainable packaging All product packaging made from recycled materials? Yes/no Product use Design for maintenance Provision of instructions for simple, effective and sustainable maintenance? Yes/no Design for repair Easy to repair by on-site team or qualified partners (and good availability of spare parts)? Yes/no Design for refurbishment Provision of a simple guide to easily refresh, upgrade and modernise the product? Yes/no Design to last Durability enables minimum life guarantee (and long projected in-use lifespan) Years Design for reuse Product can be reused on land or at sea without need to overcome reuse regulatory hurdles? Yes/no End of life End of life collection Supplier will collect the product at end of current useful life to recirculate in part or whole? Yes/no Design for disassembly Has the supplier provided simple to follow instructions for disassembly? Yes/no Design for remanufacture Will returned products or product components be reused to create new products? Yes/no Design for recycling Can the product be easily separated into homogeneous materials and recycled? Yes/no Reduced waste Low or no percentage of the product (by weight) will eventually be incinerated/landfilled Percentage Product sustainability The most important criteria for product sustainability, according to SMI Declaration supporters
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