Cleaner design could save money

Envirowise has launched a new service called designtrack

To encourage more small- and medium-sized businesses to adopt the principles of clean design, Envirowise has launched a new service called designtrack. The service is a free, on-site, product design review conducted by an independent industrial design consultant. The review covers environmental and financial aspects of the product across the life cycle, including raw materials, manufacture, use and end-of-life disposal. The consultant suggests design changes; that reduce the product’s environmental impacts and production costs. It can significantly improve manufacturing competitiveness by reducing production costs, enhancing product quality and functionality, improving disassembly and recycling potential and aid companies’ legislative compliance. Saftronics 2S took part in an Envirowise designtrack pilot exercise. An Envirowise design consultant reviewed Saftronics’ 120A Softdrive product. Designtrack helped him identify several potential design modifications that would simultaneously reduce its production costs and environmental impact. Repeating those modifications across the product range could reduce the environmental impact of Saftronics’ products by 65% and save the company about £33,000 per annum. Bob Tremlin, Saftronics’ managing director said: "The designtrack visit highlighted just how much Saftronics can gain from environmentally aware product design." To get expert design help for your products, contact Envirowise via the Environment and Energy Helpline on 0800 585794 and enquire about a free designtrack review.