Design for environment as a tool for the development of a sustainable supply chain

Figures & data

Figure 1 Steps in machine manufacturing design.

Figure 2 Development of the multicriteria matrix.

Figure 3 Tree diagram showing the environmental contribution of the various processes.

Table 1. The most important environmental aspects, ‘Whats’.

Supply chain	Customer attributes (Whats)
Purchasing of raw materials	Reduce the quantity of the material required to make the product (aluminium, paper and plastic)
Converting	Reduce the waste of packaging material during the production stages
Filling	Improve the energy efficiency of the processes
Distribution retail and consuption	Optimise the transport and material handling stage
Recycling	Favour the recycling of the used cartons
Energy recovery	Favour the energy recovery of the used cartons

Table 2. Calculation of the importance of ‘Whats’ (1st matrix).

Rules	Importance of the Whats
If (GWP and AP and energy and resources) decrease by less than 1%	1
If [(GWP or AP or energy or resources) decrease by between 1% and 2%]	3
and
If [(GWP and AP and energy and resources) decrease by less than 2%]
If (GWP or AP or energy or resources) decrease by the same as or more than 2%	9

Table 3. Product design specifications.

Engineering characteristics (ECs)
• Produce rectangular beverage cartons
• Produce cartons which weigh less
• Replace glass fibre
• Use easily recyclable materials
• Use raw materials coming from renewable resources
• Following design for disassembly methodology
• Produce recloseable beverage cartons
• Replace CFC
• Replace halon

Figure 4 1° matrix, level 0.

Table 4. Importance classes for ‘Whats’ (2nd matrix).

Relative importance ECs	Importance of the ‘Whats’ (2° matrix)
⩽5.5%	1
5.5–16.5%	3
⩾16.5%	9

Table 5. Machine design specifications.

Engineering characteristics (ECs)
• Reduce the volume/weight of the moving parts of the machine
• Minimise the need for heating/cooling during product processing
• Use high pressure nozzles to reduce water consumption by the machine
• Harmless emissions in the air and in water from the production plants
• Design the components of the machine according to design for rotation units
• Choose machine components with the longest possibile lifetime
• Reduce wasting the product (fruit juice) during the filling process
• Replace some solvents

Figure 5 2° matrix, level 1.