'Design for environment' in practice — development of the Hoover ‘New Wave’ washing machine range

Roy, Robin (1997). 'Design for environment' in practice — development of the Hoover ‘New Wave’ washing machine range. Journal of Sustainable Product Design(1) pp. 36–43.

Abstract

This article discusses the planning, development, manufacture and marketing of the Hoover New Wave range of washing machines, launched in 1993 and the first products to be awarded an EU Ecolabel for their low energy, water and detergent consumption and excellent wash performance. Lessons about design for the environment from the New Wave project include: incorporating environmental objectives into product development does not require a fundamental change to the process; any successful ‘greener’ product must balance environmental performance against other design attributes wanted by the market; for most companies, design for the environment involves a learning process, e.g. the benefits of moving from a ‘green’ design approach focused on selected environmental issues to an ‘ecodesign’ approach aimed at balancing environmental impacts throughout the life cycle; design for the environment is a dynamic process involving continuous technical change; the environmental improvement of products cannot be fully achieved by individual companies working alone.

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