Ecodesign Initiative Overview

Between September 2006 and September 2008, EDC was responsible for designing and delivering an innovative Ecodesign Initiative for Wales (UK). The initiative promoted creative approaches to resource efficiency through enabling and facilitating the required cultural change in industry, higher education and other key stakeholders.

The main activities of the Initiative included:

Industry: Working with 4 Welsh Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) from priority sectors (food and drink, manufacturing, electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and low-carbon technology) for a period of 12 months on commercial ecodesign projects. The Initiative explored how ecodesign principles and life cycle thinking could be utilised and embedded in core business strategies with the ultimate aim of changing the way products are developed and used.

Education: Working with course leaders and lecturers from four universities in Wales to embed ecodesign and sustainability in product design education. The activities involved training and networking sessions for staff, guest lectures for students and the co-development of a teaching resource pack on ecodesign.

Policy: Working with the Welsh Assembly Government to support the development and review of key policy documents, including the Wales Waste Strategy and the Green Jobs Strategy. EDC also consulted and advised on UK national and international policy.

Communication: Communicating the business and policy case for ecodesign through events, networks, the EDC website and targeted e-updates to a wide range of national and international stakeholders.

Research: Undertaking international best practice scanning, applied research, monitoring and evaluation.

In order to support EDC activities during the delivering of the ecodesign initiative, an advisory panel made up of key representatives from the public and private sectors was set up. Click the link  to find more information about EDC’s advisory panel.

Click the link to find EDC’s reports and briefings related to the Ecodesign Initiative.