Product-service eco-design: Knowledge-based infrastructures

The delivery of manufactured goods may be specified as a function of four independent factors. In addition to the conventionally considered invested capital I and contributed labour L, know-how and technology K has been recently recognised as an important independent input to the economic system, while tangible resources T may be introduced to provide an accounting of material and energy depletion. In this paper, sets of technology-driven developments are considered based on these four independent factors while setting aside economic, social, legal and political considerations. Eco-consistency concepts are reviewed followed by a discussion of the basic green-engineering approach to eco-design. These discussions lead to more specific issues including a focus on the clear accounting of the consumption of tangible resources. Also considered is the trade-off between sustainability costs and technology benefits to manage production and enterprise growth aiming both at ecological safety and economical return. The conclusions address development strategies that will be important in the foreseeable future. An extensive reference list has been provided for this interdisciplinary field.