Sustainable product design principles in mechanical engineering: From the perspective of environmental sustainability

Abstract

Sustainability has become a part of business operations, extending from the supply chain to the end of product life cycle. It guides companies towards more environmentally friendly alternatives in all operations, as well as in product design. Sustainable product design refers to minimizing the harmful effects of a product, such as environmental impacts, as efficiently as possible. To take these impacts into account, companies need to create their own principles to guide the sustainable design of their products, in order to achieve sustainability related goals. The aim of this research was to understand what a mechanical engineering company operating in a business-to-business should consider when company starts developing its principles for sustainable product design. In addition, research is carried out on how sustainably advanced companies approach product design, and what sustainable design principles guide the different stages of a product’s life cycle. The research was limited to mechanical engineering companies operating in the B2B business, as well as to a purely environmental sustainability perspective. In addition, the research was limited to the European level. The theoretical framework of the research covers the sustainability, life cycle and principles of sustainable design of the product. In addition, product design and related themes, such as circular economy, are examined from the perspective of environmental sustainability. On the basis of the theoretical framework, two different figures were also formed, which were utilized in the empirical section of the research. The research approach to the theory development is abductive, in which theory is used to benefit empirical research and aims to achieve something new. The research utilizes qualitative data, and the method is case study, which is suitable for qualitative research. During the case study, the product design of sustainably advanced companies was studied. In addition to case study, archival and documentary research was also utilised, as the data used in the research is different textual documentation. When researching previous research data on sustainable product design as well as companies selected for the case study, it is noted that companies in the mechanical engineering industry make extensive use of the already existing knowledge in their own operations. Sustainability is a big part of mechanical engineering companies today and it is also reflected in their products and their design principles. The integration of sustainability into the operations of the entire company requires management to take action to develop the strategy as well as to set the company’s environmental goals. The life cycle design principles of sustainable products emphasize sustainable sourcing of raw materials, efficient use of the product, extending the life cycle of the product through service, reducing emissions, and proper recycling without additional landfill waste. In addition, depending on the company’s product portfolio, the principles of sustainable product design can be approached more with either a product-specific perspective or a broader perspective. Based on the results of the research, it can be concluded that companies manufacturing products play a major role in achieving a sustainable society. The theoretical implications of the re-search emphasize the choice of the right product design method and perspective for companies within the framework of their product portfolio. In turn, the practical implications highlight recommendations for companies to start moving towards sustainability and its integration into their own product design.