Insights into environmental sustainability implementation during the design stage of New Product Development: An industry perspective

Design is an important stage within New Product Development (NPD) for sustainable development, with increased research on the roles of designers and other stakeholders. However, previous studies have been predominately theoretical, which has provided little insight into the current status of industry when aiming to produce sustainable products. This study investigates these themes further from the perspective of practicing designers to determine how their role supports sustainable NPD. This has enabled the development of an illustrative process model, highlighting the thought and decision-making process of practicing designers when implementing key factors of environmental sustainability. Future research directions have also been outlined.