Product ecodesign and materials: current status and future prospects

The aim of this paper is to discuss the current status of ecodesign in the industry and its future implications for materials. There is today more and more focus on the environmental impacts of products during their whole life cycle. In particular, ecodesign aims at integrating environmental aspects during the product's design process as any other criterion, in order to reduce the life cycle impacts. Although a lot of product environmental impact assessment and Design for Environment tools already exist, environmental aspects are unfortunately rarely routinely integrated into product development process in the industry. This is mainly due to the fact that current ecodesign tools are little adapted to designers' practices, requirements and competencies. After the sequential and DfX paradigms, design of products is today maturing into Integrated Design, where multiple points of views and expertise have to be considered at the same time to progressively define the product

Sustainable value analysis tool for value creation

Product-service systems (PSS) have been regarded as a promising business model to achieve sustainable production and consumption. Recent research and practice suggest the need for tools to help companies integrate sustainability into the development of PSS. The purpose of this paper is to present a Sustainable Value Analysis Tool (SVAT), and provide empirical evidence for the development and use of the tool. The tool builds on a multi-disciplinary literature analysis and qualitative data from five Chinese manufacturing companies. It is developed to assist manufacturing companies in identifying opportunities for sustainable value creation in the process of PSS development. The use of the tool in an industrial context is illustrated.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Inderscience Publishers via http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/AJMSA.2014.07064

Circular lean product-service systems design: A literature review, framework proposal and case studies

In recent years, the Service Sector has received an increasing attention from both academics and practitioners. The transition from traditional manufacturing to service-oriented integrated systems has given rise to the such called: “Servitisation Revolution”, which today is a relevant revenue generator. The definition of “Product-Service Systems (PSS)” calls for an expanded value creation system through the addition of competitive advantages based on value-added services to previous companies\u27 pure product offerings. These product-services bundled solutions have been recognized as being one of the most efficient techniques towards the achievement of resource-efficient and sustainable economies. PSS paradigm has grown beyond expectations, becoming a common term among publications of the most recognized academic journals and international conferences, and a highly discussed topic across a broad range of industrial sectors. However, recent trends based on scientific and grey literature suggest analysing the compatibility of PSS with other principles, methods and tools such as “circular” and “lean” thinking, which may help to enhance the intrinsic environmentally sustainability advantage that is refer at the first PSS definitions, but that has, unfortunately, faded through time. This paper analyses how the PSS paradigm can benefit from the “circular economy” and “lean” principles. The followed research methodology included a literature review, which aims to identify those principles, methods and tools which can help to modify each stage of a traditional PSS towards a Circular Lean PSS. Furthermore, a first Circular Lean PSS Design Framework is proposed and described. This framework is validated empirically through two case studies supported by two vessel-building companies. Further research is suggested to validate the proposed framework in different industries

Sustainability Factors for PSS Business Models

AbstractA fundamental change in how businesses are conducted and operated is an essential factor to reach more sustainable solutions not only on the industry level but also for the entire society. In this sense, the importance of developing and implementing sustainable product service system (S-PSS) business models is increasing as the number of studies are presenting it. A S-PSS business model is an approach to achieve benefits in the three dimensions of sustainability. Through efficient resource utilization and dematerialization, this type of sustainable business model helps to embed environmental and social aspects into strategic business goals and processes while increases competitive advantage. However, most of the studies that treats PSS business models do not mention their relation to sustainability. In addition, different studies take for granted that implementing PSS leads to benefits in the three sustainability dimensions. Nonetheless, PSS business models can even have a negative effect on the environment while maintaining only economic benefits. Such contradictions and incoherencies hinder the potential of PSS business models to provide sustainability benefits and might be a barrier for its adoption. Therefore, the question this study pursues is: What are the factors that make a PSS a sustainable business model? Through literature analysis, this paper proposes the identification of a set of factors that contributes to the sustainability of PSS business models. The factors identified are investigated in an exemplary case of a bike sharing system

IoT as PSS Enabler: Exploring Opportunities for Conceptualization and Implementation

Nowadays, product-service systems (PSS) as an integrated system of physical products and services play a crucial role in sustainable economies. In addition to high competitive global economy, emergence of new digital paradigms is supporting the shift towards servitization. Although the great potential of such paradigms are recognized by both practice and research, their implications for PSS is not clear yet. Particularly, features of Internet-of-Things (IoT) such as total connectedness and ubiquity of smart sensors and actuators provide various new opportunities for PSS. This study explores such opportunities by conducting structured literature review and 13 interviews. We formulate the findings into two folds. First, we introduce four degrees of IoT involvement in PSS business models and we elaborate the opportunities that they create for different types of PSS. Second, we present the key technologies and approaches, which IoT provides with regard to PSS lifecycle management

Changing the rules of the marketing game : towards Product Service Systems supported by interaction and relationship management practices

Product Service Systems (PSS) have been proposed as an environmentally efficient business model. The benefits of PSS include support of dematerialization and incentives for companies to design more efficient products with longer life cycles. In spite of the attractiveness and envi-ronmental effectiveness of PSS, much still needs to be done to make of it a viable business model. There are limitations such as the rebound effect for example. Key constraints to the implementation and operation of PSS include difficulties in managing diverse networks of providers as PSS are made of heterogeneous organizations. To address this limitation, this paper suggests that the Interaction theoretical framework, first introduced in the 80’s can inform these network management activities. Marketers can build effective relationship and network management practices to improve the design of effective PSS’. Marketing educators should support further evolution and adoption of PSS.Peer reviewe

Evaluating the environmental performance of a product/service-system business model for Merino wool next-to-skin garments: The case of Armadillo Merino®

Circular business models are often enabled by means of product/service-systems (PSS). The common perception is that such business models have enhanced environmental performance when compared to conventional business models rooted in the linear economy. This article investigates the environmental potential of developing a use-oriented PSS business model for Merino wool t-shirts intended for use by the British Ministry of Defence as an alternative to the present supply system based on synthetic t-shirts purchased from sportswear clothing companies. To conduct the assessment, we apply the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to quantify and compare the climate change impacts and impact potentials of the proposed PSS business model and of a reference business model. Results showed that there could be significant contribution of quantifying environmental potential for PSS business models when justifying the transition to a circular economy. However, when adopting LCA methodology for this purpose, the design of the PSS needs to be well thought to overcome some of the identified challenges. The article concludes by making the case that LCA studies can support the definition, design and value creation of the product/service-systems in early development stages

Modelling the circular economy: Introducing a supply chain equilibrium approach

The circular economy (CE) has gained prominence in recent years in government and business policies, as well as academic research. Yet, its alleged wholesomeness is increasingly questioned and few quantitative studies include both the outer (e.g. recycling) and inner circles (e.g. reduce or reuse), respectively the ex-ante least and most efficient CE strategies. By developing a supply chain equilibrium model, based on general equilibrium theory, this paper presents a modelling framework where a product-service system is introduced as a circular alternative to conventional products. Through generalised prices that cover inner and outer circle variables, targeted economic and fiscal policy measures affect overall price levels and, by consequence, operational levels of the supply chain. The rationale behind this approach relies on combining material and economic efficiency by integrating material/product life cycles with market interactions. To illustrate its performance, the model examines the rollout of a reusable plastic bottle initiative in Belgium. The results show that if circular products are perceived as substitutes for conventional products, well-targeted policies can reduce material use substantially. Furthermore, coordinating circular policies along the supply chain can improve their outcomes. However, the absence of CE data impedes model development and risks undermining the validity of the results