The Network for Electronic Product Design (NEPD) aims to facilitate discussion and disseminate information, new ideas and thinking in relation to the eco-design implications of the design of electronic products. NEPD provides five core services: events, training, Internet, publications and consultancy.

The network was established in 1996 and is an initiative of The Centre for Sustainable Design with original support from Dell Europe.

Content:

• Background
• Services

Background

A new agenda: electronics product design and the environment

Environmental concerns are becoming a key component in the management of existing and new product development in the electronics industry. Designing-in environmental benefits, as well as 'End of Life Management' issues are moving onto the agenda transnationally. This is being accelerated by growing discussion over "Producer Responsibility", a changing European legal framework, increased competition and a continual drive for innovation.

Eco-design / "Design for Environment" (DfE) is moving onto managers' agendas. However, due to the speed of change and the complexity of many of the issues, it is difficult to keep up to date with leading thinking, new ideas and information. In response to this, The Centre for Sustainable Design has developed the Network for Electronic Product Design (NEPD), with original support from Dell Europe.

NEPD research

NEPD research has highlighted a number of key issues amongst companies in the electronics sector:

• Considerable concern and uncertainty over the potential impact of 'Producer Responsibility'
  
• Companies are already exploring eco-design in product design - with dismantling seen as a major issue
  
• Eco-design is predicted to emerge as a key business issue in the next few years
  
• There are two sets of needs: managing the eco-design process and incorporating eco-design into product design
  
• There is a lack of information and support structures for companies exploring eco-design in product design
  

In response, a series of thought-provoking events have been organised by NEPD. Click here to see the abstracts and summaries from these events.

NEPD's Target audience

NEPD is likely to be of interest to a wide range of individuals and organisations with an interest in environmental management and electronic product design issues.

• Electronic equipment manufacturers
• Electronic component manufacturers
• Wholesalers
• Retailers
• Product design consultancies
• Waste management companies
• Trade and professional associations
• Academics
• Regulators
• Government

NEPD will enable those involved in managing the 'design for environment' process to access information, keep up to date with new thinking, and network with others across a range of issues:

• International trends
• Sustainable development
• Organisation/management of 'design for environment' issues
• Competitive benchmarking
• New concepts: eco-efficiency, de-materialisation
• Communication to designers
• Lifecycle assessment
• Best practice case studies
• Innovative ideas

NEPD Services

NEPD has developed a range of high qaulity services to support companies in the electronics sector.

Five services are offered by NEPD:

• Workshops
• Training
• Internet
• Publications
• Consultancy

NEPD workshops

A range of afternoon workshops have been organised by NEPD. These are of particular interest to environmental managers, product designers and consultants.

NEPD Training

Training course 1 has been developed for environmental managers, product designers and consultants.

NEPD publications

Conference Proceedings, Research Surveys and Checklists have been produced covering eco-design in the electronics sector.

NEPD consultancy

Product expertise covers the management and development of eco-design programmes and the incorporation of environmental issues into product design. Costs are dependent on specific briefs.

Contact CfSD for further details.

Further interest:

• ETMUEL (Eco-design and Training for Manufacture, Use and 'End of Life' for SMEs)
• SEEBA (South East Environment and Business Association)

[Back to Top] [NEPD Event Summaries] [CfSD Home]