Eco-design counter

Presentation :

Application of an Eco-Design approach: analysing the life cycle of a product (manufacture, distribution, use, end of life) and reducing its impact on our environment according to a multi-criteria analysis.

The object of the study is an eco-designed water meter designed by the SAPPEL company, which received the 2008 Entreprises et Environnement prize in the "Ecoproduct for sustainable development" category during the POLLUTEC international trade fair.

Case of the different evolutions of the counter between the beginning of the eco-design process and the eco-designed product

Pedagogical implementation: analysis of the life cycle of the various meters using a Life Cycle Carbon Analysis (LCCA) spreadsheet. Simplified tool, which aims to make the notions and practice of eco-design accessible to all.

The CVMA is based on emission factors from the Bilan Carbone® method.

The "ACCV spreadsheet" application: quantify in terms of carbon impact (kg eqC or kg eqCO2).

To compare products with the same functional unit and to highlight some of the criteria taken into account in an eco-design approach.

The pedagogical implementation also includes life cycle assessment based on four criteria using the SolidWorks® Sustainability software module.

Technical solutions discussed :

1 Altaïr V4 eco-designed water meter dismantled

1 complete Altaïr V4 water meter

1 complete Altaïr V3 water meter

1 Altaïr V3 water meter brass body only

1 balance

Pedagogical activities :

Sustainable Development :

• Discovery of some impacts of human activities on the environment (findings, consequences, global warming, greenhouse gases, etc.).
• Presentation of the concept of sustainable development (from an international, local, individual and company point of view)
• Localisation of ecodesign within the concept of sustainable development.

Ecodesign :

• Taking the environment into account in the design of products and systems
• Discovery of ecodesign approaches
• Raising awareness of the latest European directives in the field of the environment,
• Knowledge of the objectives of some environmental standards (ecolabel, self-declaration, eco-profile, environmental management, ...).

LCA: Life Cycle Assessment :

Taking into account the environmental impact of a product at each stage of its life cycle:

• Raw materials and Fossil fuels: extraction, processing and transport
• Manufacturing: production processes
• Distribution: road, sea, air and rail transport,
• Distribution: Roadfreight, seafreight, airfreight, railfreight
• End of life: recycling circuits, reuse or not of products at the end of their life.

Quantifying the carbon impact of a product over its entire lifecycle:

• In terms of kg eq C and in terms of kg eqCO2 Step by step and total over its life cycle.

Comparison between products with the same functional unit :

Highlighting of several ecodesign requirements (decision support):

• Materials, design, production processes, transport, packaging, consumption, recyclability.

Référence :

SCPT : Introductory case for the eco-design of a water meter