Integrating life cycle assessment and ecodesign to improve product effectiveness and environmental performance: A novel approach

Mattos Batista de Moraes, F; Kulay, L; Trianni, A

Integrating life cycle assessment and ecodesign to improve product effectiveness and environmental performance: A novel approach

Mattos Batista de Moraes, F

Kulay, L Trianni, A

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Sustainable Production and Consumption, 2025, 55, pp. 76-89
Issue Date:: 2025-05-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Mattos Batista de Moraes, F https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6106-3628
dc.contributor.author	Kulay, L
dc.contributor.author	Trianni, A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1699-7787
dc.date.accessioned	2025-07-28T01:29:05Z
dc.date.available	2025-07-28T01:29:05Z
dc.date.issued	2025-05-01
dc.identifier.citation	Sustainable Production and Consumption, 2025, 55, pp. 76-89
dc.identifier.issn	2352-5509
dc.identifier.issn	2352-5509
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/188859
dc.description.abstract	The sanitizing products market has grown significantly, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which increased both production and environmental impacts, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. However, “green products” are often perceived as less effective than conventional ones. This study introduces a novel approach integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) with ecodesign to optimize both environmental performance and product effectiveness. The approach was validated through a case study of a large Brazilian chemical industry producing sanitizers. A degreaser floor cleaner was selected for cradle-to-grave assessment, considering raw materials, manufacturing, transport, use, and end-of-life stages. While previous research has focused on LCA and ecodesign separately, this work combines the two to address these dual objectives. Environmental performance was evaluated using a single indicator encompassing and weighing five impact categories: Primary Energy Demand, Water Consumption, Global Warming Potential, Ozone Formation Potential, and Eutrophication. Ecodesign principles guided the redesign of the cleaning product, and its effectiveness was assessed through use tests, for the proposal of 8 improvement scenarios. After redesigning with three optimization strategies (formula, dilution rate, and use method), the solutions led up to 72 % environmental impact reduction. Five of the scenarios also improved product effectiveness, i.e. cleansing. A matrix integrating both environmental and effectiveness scores was developed to select the optimal solutions. This approach could be extended to other industries to support decision-makers in the stages of product development, manufacturing, use and end-of-life, by simultaneously enhancing sustainability and effectiveness.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER
dc.relation.ispartof	Sustainable Production and Consumption
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.spc.2025.02.006
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	0502 Environmental Science and Management, 1402 Applied Economics, 1604 Human Geography
dc.subject.classification	4104 Environmental management
dc.subject.classification	4404 Development studies
dc.title	Integrating life cycle assessment and ecodesign to improve product effectiveness and environmental performance: A novel approach
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	55
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management
utslib.for	1402 Applied Economics
utslib.for	1604 Human Geography
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-07-28T01:29:02Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	55

Abstract:

The sanitizing products market has grown significantly, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which increased both production and environmental impacts, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. However, “green products” are often perceived as less effective than conventional ones. This study introduces a novel approach integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) with ecodesign to optimize both environmental performance and product effectiveness. The approach was validated through a case study of a large Brazilian chemical industry producing sanitizers. A degreaser floor cleaner was selected for cradle-to-grave assessment, considering raw materials, manufacturing, transport, use, and end-of-life stages. While previous research has focused on LCA and ecodesign separately, this work combines the two to address these dual objectives. Environmental performance was evaluated using a single indicator encompassing and weighing five impact categories: Primary Energy Demand, Water Consumption, Global Warming Potential, Ozone Formation Potential, and Eutrophication. Ecodesign principles guided the redesign of the cleaning product, and its effectiveness was assessed through use tests, for the proposal of 8 improvement scenarios. After redesigning with three optimization strategies (formula, dilution rate, and use method), the solutions led up to 72 % environmental impact reduction. Five of the scenarios also improved product effectiveness, i.e. cleansing. A matrix integrating both environmental and effectiveness scores was developed to select the optimal solutions. This approach could be extended to other industries to support decision-makers in the stages of product development, manufacturing, use and end-of-life, by simultaneously enhancing sustainability and effectiveness.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/188859