Arianne Bijma
Sustainable Development
arianne.bijma@usa.neta
  

Traditional research studies have focused on improving the environmental performance of products. Exploratory research within academia, industry and government has recognized that optimizing product-service systems might significantly improve environmental sustainability. The rationale for this research is the concept that eco-efficient product-service combinations may achieve both economic and ecological profits, showing a path to sustainability.

The development of eco-efficient product-service combinations has been studied and innovation approaches have been developed, such as the DES (Designing Eco-efficient Services) approach by TU Delft. The current project extends prior research by involving industry in envisioning and analysing potential eco-efficient product-service combinations.

Motorola and TU Delft have partnered to explore eco-efficient product-service combinations guided by the DES approach. The study enabled the participants to explore innovation tools for eco-efficient concepts within a specific industrial context. The study further enabled exploration at the concept stage of methods for evaluating key values, including the environmental gain, the business opportunity, and the consumer value. The study has helped to strengthen the DES approach, including underlying theories and hypotheses.

The project shows the potential to define new eco-efficient product-service combinations with a high potential for success in the market and for increasing key values. At the same time the innovation methodology developed by TU Delft was refined as a tool to assist commerce to develop systems which can simultaneously produce business opportunities and increase environmental sustainability.

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Last updated: 13 November, 2008