Implementing Sustainability for Green Product Development : A Case Study in the Furniture Industry

Abstract: Sustainability has become increasingly important to most industries. However, implementing sustainability into the product development process seems to be difficult to comprehend in practise. The purpose of the thesis is to examine how environmental issues can be successfully implemented in the product development process, and later, to bring these findings from theory to practise. The thesis is carried out in collaboration with the furniture company Fogia. As of today, there are multiple tools and frameworks available to support the implementation of sustainability. Because of the complex nature of environmental issues, these tools are often either too complicated or too general. The general tools do not require as much information and are often easier to use, while the specific tools are information-heavy and can provide extensive detailed information. Along with tools and frameworks, intangible factors such as commitment and leadership are proven to be a crucial factor to achieve sustainability. What is often referred to as ‘the soft side of ecodesign’ is just as important as practical measures. The Ecodesign Checklist is selected as the preferred tool for Fogia. The checklist can be implemented early in the process, is reasonably easy to use, can be adapted to specific industries and covers the entire life cycle. The checklist developed during the thesis consist of 50 statements which can be checked as ‘Correct’ or ‘Not Relevant’. Then, the results are summarized, and strategies for further development are suggested. The checklist is evaluated through three product development projects at Fogia. The projects are focused on Fogias accessory department and covers the following areas: (1) Development of a new product, (2) Evaluation of existing product and (3) Comparison of two products. The main drawback of the checklist is that it remains general – and thereby many of the statements are subjective. In conclusion, the interactive nature of the checklist is intuitive to use, and the statements are created specifically for Fogia. The checklist provides guidelines to crucial environmental considerations along the process.