Challenges to assessing environmental impacts in early-stage design: Evidence and insights from practitioners

Early-stage product design is the point at which environmental impacts are primarily determined, however available eco-design tools and methods for assessing impacts are typically complex, time and data intensive. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a common method of environmental impact evaluation, but without simple and effective tools suitable for early design application, the integration of life cycle principles into the design process remains a challenge for designers. This work explores the key factors hindering the integration of environmental considerations within early-stage design. A sequential mixed method approach, consisting of an online survey followed by semi-structured interviews with industry experts was employed. Findings were triangulated with the extant literature to critically analyse current product environmental assessment practices. Results identified that challenges to eco-design integration are multi-faceted; LCA technical challenges combine with organisational and design practice barriers within businesses. Operational practices, such as sign-off systems, design priorities, design and sustainability team disconnect, lack of integrated KPIs, complex and interoperable data systems all hinder integration and early consideration. Creating further LCA based tools that sit outside the design process will not improve the situation. Instead, circular eco-design information should be incorporated into existing design workflows, methods and frameworks. This research provides exploratory evidence from industrial practitioners on how LCA technical and organisational barriers interact to hinder product level environmental assessment. It provides a critical analysis of the complex factors restricting eco-design from becoming normal practice. Overcoming these barriers will help to embed eco-design practices into manufacturing, offering environmental and economic benefits.