A Review Of The Literature On Eco-Design In Manufacturing Industry: Are The Institutions Focusing On The Key Aspects?

Abstract

[EN] The aim of this paper is to review the most important literature in relation to the special characteristics of the eco design as part of the innovation portfolio of companies. Eco design is a methodology that takes into account the environmental condition of products from conception. More than a half of the impacts can be prevented from the design process so that throughout their life circle are less harmful to the environment. As a methodology that integrates environmental criteria in the design of products and services, managing the environmental innovation through eco-design has to be considered as part of the strategic definition of both, companies and Public Agencies. We pretend to analyze literature related to eco-design in companies and the way policy makers are pretending to reinforce sustainable attitude at the industrial sector. The main objective of this paper is to uncover if there is any relation between what literature indicates companies are doing and what public administration are pretending with its industrial policies, to see if institutions are focusing on their industrial policies and check if they are covering the key.