Eco-design a key factor for micro and small enterprise development

The growing recognition of the importance of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to economic development and social welfare in developing countries has led to the implementation of many projects and programmes aimed at assisting such enterprises in their daily operation and promoting their development. Many, if not most, of the interventions have been uni-directional, geared towards easing financial constraints by the promotion of credit and to upgrading technical skills through vocational schools. Until recently, little attention tended to be paid to product development and the environmental impact associated with MSEs production. More and more often, product development is being identified by different authors working with MSEs in various parts of the world as a key factor for their progress. The development of MSEs depends in great measure on the products they make. The greater competition in traditional markets is leading to a desperate need for product diversification. The introduction of eco-design has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of small enterprises and contribute to their development and sustainability. In the context of MSEs in developing countries, the concept of eco-design needs to incorporate the environmental, social and economic aspects of the design and production process. In these circumstances it can be defined as the process which creates product designs that are sustainable in terms of the environment and resource-use whilst considering the need for the product. It examines the intensity and optimisation of resource-use for product design, while involving local culture and tastes, and the overall production efficiency while simultaneously improving the product's quality to increase market opportunities. This paper analyses the way eco-design contributes to the development and economic and environmental sustainability of small enterprises and presents some products that were designed by Mexican artisans as a result of the eco-design training.