Approach to the Identification and Quantification of Environmental Effects during Product Life

Abstract

Rising environmental costs and their transfer to those who incur them become serious hazards for the industrial enterprise. To avoid these hazards special activities have to be adopted during the product development phase. Quantifiable evaluation covering all phases of a product's life are of great significance for product development. The authors conclude that using existing ecological balances is not a suitable method. Further quantification is necessary, which deals with costs, material flows, energy flows, mixing of materials, hazards, damage and ethical aspects.