Workshop

III Sustainable Production and Resource Efficiency

III.W3 Tools for Ecodesign

Datum: 25/09/2008
Zeit: 09:00 - 10:30
Ort: Tower

Zielgruppe: Researchers and practitioners in the field of Ecodesign, from research institutes, industry, ministries and administrations

Ziele:

Provide up-to-date information on the state-of-the-art and best practice on Ecodesign Provide a forum for debate on how the whole Ecodesign application can be promoted, supported, strengthened Identify aspects that are still missing for a broad application of ecodesign Discuss the role of (national) government in the promotion of ecodesign

Format: Introductory presentations and discussion
Sprache: Englisch

1. Introductory presentations
Two introductory presentations (15’) will be given by econcept (U. Tischner) and the Flemish Public Waste Agency (W. Ulburghs).

U. Tischner from econcept, a German Agency for Sustainable Design with more than 15 years of experience in Ecodesign will shortly introduce definitions of Ecodesign, case studies how the practice in companies and education takes place, and some more simple and qualitative tools that designers easily can use within their daily work to include environmental (and social) aspects in the design of products (and services).

W. Ulburghs from OVAM will introduce OVAM actions concerning ecodesign and a recently developed tool: The Ecolizer. This tool was developed for designers and product producing companies as an introduction to ecodesign, life cycle thinking and how to assess the most environmental impacts of their products.
To encourage the designers that integrate environmental criteria into their design the OVAM organises two annual Ecodesign Awards, one for professional designers and one for students.
The inspiration database or database of good examples can be found on the OVAM website and is meant to inspire those companies and designers that aren‘t convinced that environmental measurements can be part of a realistic approach of good design and competitive products.

2. Open space (5-10’)
The participants have the time to look into the tools that were presented or to shortly present their own tools.

3. Discussion
Then a discussion with the audience will take place, facilitated by An Vercalsteren from VITO, where all questions of the audience, own experiences of practitioners, gaps and missing links/ obstacles for Ecodesign in practice are discussed and exchange of information and networking takes place. At the end sources for information and tools, next steps for Ecodesign beginners and practitioners, as well as potential new projects and co-operations in the field of applied Ecodesign will be summarized and conclude the workshop. The participants will be able to sign into an address list that will be sent around to the experts present at the workshop who are interested in networking in the field.

Questions addressed:

• What are the demands from practitioners regarding ecodesign tools / what qualities, specifications are required (“needs”)?
• Which tools for ecodesign exist nowadays (“offer”)?
• Do existing ecodesign tools meet the requirements/needs of practitioners? Is there still a need to adjust existing tools or develop new tools that meet the needs of ecodesign practitioners? Or is there maybe an excessive amount of ecodesign tools?
• What are the thresholds for a broad application of ecodesign?

Workshop Moderation

Tischner, Ursula
Director of econcept, Agency for Sustainable Design, Cologne, Deutschland


Vercalsteren, An
VITO, Belgien
Download der Präsentation (50 KB)

Beiträge

Tischner, Ursula
Director of econcept, Agency for Sustainable Design, Cologne, Deutschland


Ulburghs, Wouter
Flemish Public Waste Agency (OVAM), Belgien
Download der Präsentation (590 KB)