|
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.
|
 |