TY - JOUR
T1 - Enabling environmental sustainability and circularity assessment in technology development
T2 - The Value-Impact Scanner
AU - Parolin, Giácomo
AU - Arnbjerg, Jacob
AU - Eriksen, Henriette A.
AU - McAloone, Tim C.
AU - Pigosso, Daniela C.A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - The development of new technologies by manufacturing companies can enable more environmentally sustainable and circular solutions. However, there is a lack of tools to assess the sustainability potential of these technologies during research and development. This paper proposes a novel framework to structure and make sense of sustainability and circularity in technology development projects, relating to both value and environmental impacts. The framework was developed into a tool following the Design Research Methodology, in collaboration with a manufacturing company. The tool was tested in three case studies in manufacturing companies, indicating its broad usefulness. The technology assessment tool enables (1) a quick screening of technical solutions or concepts, (2) the definition of decision-making criteria, and (3) the detection of potential negative environmental consequences of innovative technology, especially trade-offs related to circular economy. It was shown to help technology developers to make informed decisions about the environmental sustainability potential of their innovation projects, and to identify areas for improvement.
AB - The development of new technologies by manufacturing companies can enable more environmentally sustainable and circular solutions. However, there is a lack of tools to assess the sustainability potential of these technologies during research and development. This paper proposes a novel framework to structure and make sense of sustainability and circularity in technology development projects, relating to both value and environmental impacts. The framework was developed into a tool following the Design Research Methodology, in collaboration with a manufacturing company. The tool was tested in three case studies in manufacturing companies, indicating its broad usefulness. The technology assessment tool enables (1) a quick screening of technical solutions or concepts, (2) the definition of decision-making criteria, and (3) the detection of potential negative environmental consequences of innovative technology, especially trade-offs related to circular economy. It was shown to help technology developers to make informed decisions about the environmental sustainability potential of their innovation projects, and to identify areas for improvement.
KW - Circular economy
KW - Design for sustainability
KW - Eco-effectiveness
KW - Sustainability assessment
KW - Trade-offs
UR - https://doi.org/10.11583/DTU.25144229.v1
UR - https://doi.org/10.11583/DTU.25144256.v1
U2 - 10.1016/j.spc.2024.06.015
DO - 10.1016/j.spc.2024.06.015
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85196317252
SN - 2352-5509
VL - 49
SP - 92
EP - 103
JO - Sustainable Production and Consumption
JF - Sustainable Production and Consumption
ER -
