Multi-lifecycle product and process development: selection of optimal production, usage, and recovery processes

Our previous work introduced an integrated product and process development (IPPD) methodology. Different product development issues such as cost, benefit, and environmental impact are formally described as constrained optimization problems that are solved using a life locus tree. This paper proposes to integrate the concept of eco-compass into the methodology. Environmental impact is evaluated using six indices: mass intensity, energy intensity, health and environmental potential risk, revalorization, resource conservation, and service extension. Together with cost and benefit, an index vector of eight indices is set up to evaluate the performance of processes, life phases, and a product's different life loci. Finally as an example, we consider the development of a business telephone. By applying the proposed approach and eco-compass LCA data provided by NJIT's LCA research group, we can select the optimal telephone design and its associated production, usage, and recovery processes.