Sustainable product development design (SPDD) is concerned with balancing economic, environmental, ethical and social aspects in the creation of products and services.

SPDD looks to minimise adverse sustainability impacts and maximise sustainability value throughout the life-cycle of the product or service.

To create sustainable products and services that increase stakeholders' 'quality of life', whilst at the same time achieving major reductions in resource and energy use, will require a significant emphasis on stimulating new ideas through higher levels of creativity and innovation.

Martin Charter in 'Design for Environmental Sustainability',
Foresight, Office of Science and Technology, UK, May 1998

"A landmine can be produced in an eco-efficient manner,
whilst creating jobs in the process!"

There is no easy answer, but we need a clearer understanding of the whole picture. The sustainability landscape is dotted with problems and opportunities

For example, changing producer responsibility legislation in the electronics sector will produce opportunities for those providing specialist recycling services and those who start to design smart for dismantlability.

These new designs will require increased creativity, as well as involvement from customers, suppliers and recyclers if new solutions are to be generated that are easier to recycle, use less hazardous materials and use more recyclate.

Whether one takes a holistic or environmentally driven view on sustainability, we are still in a learning phase in relation to product and service development. Understanding of the eco-design process is improving, and this is being driven by the development of strategic approaches incorporating measurement metrics.