Designed future

with companies worldwide competing to bring out ecofriendly products, India is also not far behind, given the increasing consumer awareness levels. In an effort to promote the use of such products, the Indian Institute of Technology ( iit )-Delhi in collaboration with Delft University of Technology ( dut ), the Netherlands, and ineti of Portugal has launched the European Commission-funded Indian European Ecodesign Programme ( ieep ). The programme includes sharing knowledge among professionals, companies and universities in Europe and Asia. Development of ecoproducts will also be included in the programme.

Ecodesign is redesigning of products while taking environmental aspects into consideration and simultaneously balancing the economic as well as ecological requirements of the product. "Indian automakers, for instance, have to be told to encourage the use of recyclable products.

As of now, unlike European countries, they have no interest in taking them back once they are sold," says G V Soumitri, associate professor, Instrument Design and Development Centre, iit. ieep is trying to force them into using more recyclable materials. "We are working on making Maruti Zen car 80 per cent recyclable," he says. Cars may be easy to put together, but dismantling is a difficult process and most Indian companies are unable to do so, he adds. In the end, they are just junked.

Says Jan Carel Diehl, who is also a member of the programme, "Some countries in Europe have followed the buy back scheme for vehicles, we intend to fulfil it throughout Europe by 2001. India should also adopt the same practice in order to reduce costs."

Ecodesign is all about making further development sustainable. It means better products, less waste, more efficiency, and reduction in pollution and use of raw material. Soumitri believes 30 to 50 per cent of the environmental load could be reduced through ecodesigning. For example, a traditional press iron can save 80 per cent energy compared to the electrical ones, he says.

Proponents of ecodesign believe it is a 'win win' concept. Says Philip Vergragt, professor, dut, "It combines economic benefits, opens new business opportunities and reduces adverse environmental impacts substantially throughout the product life cycle."

Workshops and demonstration projects on transport, recycling, shelter and tourism were conducted at iit recently for "companies interested in sustainable business". With increasing awareness among Indian manufacturers, proponents of ecodesign are hopeful that it will catch up and develop in a big way.

When compared to the technological development in different European countries, India still has a long way to go. For instance, the oce , a Dutch office appliance company, is developing recyclable fax machines. It is in a 'kit' form, consumes very little energy, runs on recyclable paper and has minimal carbon dioxide emissions. Similarly, the French tyre manufacturing company, Michelin have brought out 'energy' tyres. A car travelling on energy wheels uses up to five per cent less energy than conventional tyres.

The official Swiss Railways watch designed by the Hans Hilfiker Design team of Switzerland is made entirely out of scrap metal, recycled from the immediate environment (copper and aluminum from used vehicles and zinc from household appliances).

Ecodesigned products fall into two categories -- made-to-order by small design shops and developed with a particular marketing concept in mind. The latter is done by specific industries to stimulate sales, reach a wider public or to promote the products' advantages keeping the environment in mind.

It already commands importance in many industrial sectors, where environmental businesses are usually categorised into three types -- innovative product/services; systems solution; and social system structuring. But where ecodesign has been successful is products used in day-to-day life, from flowerpots, cleaning products to surfboards.

Till recently, design was just one of the many options available to add value to a product. Now the outlook seems to be changing. Ecodesigned products add value to business ventures because it has an appeal, which consequently increases its sales potential. This has radically changed the way products are perceived and utilised.

With inputs from Pamela Wentick

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