Achieving real environmental improvements using value: Impact assessment

Abstract

How can industry play its part in contributing towards Sustainable Development? The framework of a systematic approach for achieving 'more from less' is discussed, i.e. more value and performance in products which use less resources and produce less waste. This framework—a value: impact assessment—requires the use of testing and consumer research to determine the value of a product. The impact is determined using lifecycle assessment; safety, as determined by risk assessment, is a pre-requisite. It is also suggested that a full range of marketing techniques needs to be used to ensure that the environmentally improved product sells in replacement of its poorer competitors. Without market place success, the environmental improvement achieves little. It is also demonstrated that, in general, the most important environmental benefits will come from the use phase of the product, further emphasizing the important role to be played by marketing.