Product design is one of the most important sectors influencing global sustainability, as almost all the products consumed by people are outputs of the product development process. In particular, early design decisions can have a very significant impact on sustainability. These decisions not only relate to material and manufacturing choices but have a far-reaching effect on the product’s entire life cycle, including transportation, distribution, and end-of-life logistics. However, key challenges have to be overcome to enable eco-design methods to be applicable in early design stages. Lack of information models, semantic interoperability, methods to influence eco-design thinking in early stages, measurement science and uncertainty models in eco-decisions, and ability to balance business decisions and eco-design methodology are serious impediments to realizing sustainable products and services. Therefore, integrating downstream life cycle data into eco-design tools is essential to achieving true sustainable product development. Our review gives an overview of related research and positions early eco-design tools and decision support as a key strategy for the future. By merging sustainable thinking into traditional design methods, this review provides a framework for ongoing research, as well as encourages research collaborations among the various communities interested in sustainable product realization.
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e-mail: ramani@purdue.edu
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September 2010
Research Papers
Integrated Sustainable Life Cycle Design: A Review
Karthik Ramani,
Karthik Ramani
School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering,
e-mail: ramani@purdue.edu
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
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Devarajan Ramanujan,
Devarajan Ramanujan
School of Mechanical Engineering,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
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William Z. Bernstein,
William Z. Bernstein
School of Mechanical Engineering,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
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Fu Zhao,
Fu Zhao
School of Mechanical Engineering, and Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
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John Sutherland,
John Sutherland
Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
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Carol Handwerker,
Carol Handwerker
School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
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Jun-Ki Choi,
Jun-Ki Choi
Department of Energy Sciences and Technology,
Brookhaven National Laboratory
, Upton, NY 11973
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Harrison Kim,
Harrison Kim
Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering,
University of Illinois
, Urbana, IL
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Deborah Thurston
Deborah Thurston
Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering,
University of Illinois
, Urbana, IL
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Karthik Ramani
School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035e-mail: ramani@purdue.edu
Devarajan Ramanujan
School of Mechanical Engineering,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
William Z. Bernstein
School of Mechanical Engineering,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
Fu Zhao
School of Mechanical Engineering, and Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
John Sutherland
Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
Carol Handwerker
School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2035
Jun-Ki Choi
Department of Energy Sciences and Technology,
Brookhaven National Laboratory
, Upton, NY 11973
Harrison Kim
Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering,
University of Illinois
, Urbana, IL
Deborah Thurston
Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering,
University of Illinois
, Urbana, ILJ. Mech. Des. Sep 2010, 132(9): 091004 (15 pages)
Published Online: September 16, 2010
Article history
Received:
February 21, 2010
Revised:
July 13, 2010
Online:
September 16, 2010
Published:
September 16, 2010
Citation
Ramani, K., Ramanujan, D., Bernstein, W. Z., Zhao, F., Sutherland, J., Handwerker, C., Choi, J., Kim, H., and Thurston, D. (September 16, 2010). "Integrated Sustainable Life Cycle Design: A Review." ASME. J. Mech. Des. September 2010; 132(9): 091004. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4002308
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