ekodesign

Ekodesign, or ecodesign, is the practice of designing products and services to minimize environmental impact across their life cycle. It emphasizes reducing resource use, energy consumption, emissions, and waste, while increasing durability, reparability, and recyclability.

The approach is life cycle oriented, considering impacts from material extraction, production, use, and end-of-life management. Designers may use tools such as life cycle assessment (LCA), design for environment (DfE), and design for disassembly (DfD) to evaluate trade-offs and identify improvements. Materials selection, energy efficiency, modularity, and ease of maintenance are common focus areas, along with strategies for reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling. The goal is to create products that perform well while imposing fewer ecological burdens.

In policy and standards, the European Union has played a central role through the Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC), which requires energy-related products to meet minimum environmental performance criteria. This work is complemented by other directives on energy labeling, waste management, and circular economy initiatives. International standards bodies also provide guidance, such as ISO 14001-based environmental management and ISO 14040/44 on LCA, to support systematic eco-design practices.

Ekodesign applies across sectors, including consumer electronics, appliances, transportation, packaging, and building materials, as well as digital services where energy use and end-of-life considerations are relevant. While widely adopted, challenges persist, including data availability, cost considerations, and balancing performance with sustainability goals.