Strategies for Product Waste Minimization

1. Source reduction

2. Extending the product life

3. Product re-use

4. Product remanufacture

5. Materials recycling

Design Strategies for Source Reduction

• Simplify the product: eliminate unnecessary components

• Use the minimum amount of material required to meet performance requirement

• Avoid unnecessary packaging

• Use strong and lightweight materials

Design Strategies for Extending Product Life

• Identify and eliminate potential weak points in the design, particularly for operational parts

• Ensure the product is designed for likely misuse as well for the intended use

• Design for easy maintenance and repair, preferably by owner

• Consider classic design or other means that will encourage consumers to want to retain products for longer periods

Design Strategies for Re-usable Crockery and Packaging

• Ensure that the product is strong enough to withstand repeated collection, handling, washing and refilling

• Ensure that cleaning processes meet standards for food, beverage and personal care products

• Use-in-mould labels rather than paper and plastic labels (which can be washed off or accidentally removed)

• Design packaging for a number of ways of re-use (for return to the manufacturer/retailer for refilling; for re-use at home)

Design Strategies for Product and Materials Recycling

Simple Products (packaging and other single-material products)

• Choose materials that are commonly recycled

• Ensure that materials used for labels, adhesives and caps are compatible with the primary material (or can be removed in the recycling process)

Disassembly and Recycling

• Minimize material variety

• Use compatible materials

• Specify use of materials with recycled content

• Consolidate parts

• Reduce the number of assembly operations

• Simplify and standardize component fits and interfaces

• Identify separation points between parts

• Use water-soluble adhesives where possible

• Mark materials to enhance separation

Design Strategies for Minimal Consumption

• Design the product to minimize the use of extra materials

• Offer feedback to consumers on when replacement consumables are required to save wastage

• Determine if consumables can be replaced by re-useable items

Design Strategies for Minimizing the Impact of Disposal

• Use degradable materials if appropriate

• Avoid toxic materials

• Provide instructions for proper disposal on the label