Recent approaches have been oriented towards an even more global vision of what eco-design should be and have focused on what is called Life Cycle Analysis and Sustainable Product Development. These methods suggest a "cradle to grave" systemic analysis of the ecological impacts of a product. By using these analytical tools, a designer can select with more accuracy, the materials and processes that will have the least negative impact on the environment.

Moreover, another method called DFD - Design For Disassembly – has been developed to facilitate the repair and recycling of a product's different parts. This approach suggests using non-permanent assembly methods. Instead of gluing or welding, the use of screws or snap-fits is favoured in order to facilitate dismantling the product, a bit like a Lego(r) set. The parts of the object are then easy to repair or replace. Many products presently on the market cannot be repaired because they are impossible to disassemble. In such cases, the only option left is to throw away the product and replace it, which is exactly the problem that the Metacycle project wishes to resolve.