2. Life cycle assessment, an ecodesign tool – definitions and concepts

2.1 Ecodesign: a few definitions

The production of goods and services is now subject to constraints. It will therefore no longer be enough to respond to a technical specification in a cost-effective way, we will now have to integrate respect for mankind and the environment; this means reducing the consumption of fossil resources, limiting greenhouse gas emissions, complying with environmental constraints – this means limiting environmental impacts. However, taking into account all environmental impacts during the manufacturing process, and not just measuring carbon footprints or CO ₂ emissions, means integrating eco-design into classic design processes, and also into the innovation process as a consequence. This innovation process is thus...