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Sustainability in Product Development
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Sustainability in Product Development

A topical collection in Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This collection belongs to the section "Sustainable Products and Services".

Viewed by 16731

Editor

Dr. Juan Manuel Muñoz Guijosa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mechanical Engineering Department, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Technical University Madrid), Madrid, Spain
Interests: machinery design; composites; nanocomposites; machinery vibration monitoring; lightweight compliant joints; engineering education

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Our world is composed of many environmental, economic, and societal systems. All of them are interconnected, and a very fragile and interrelated equilibrium exists, at individual, organizational, and global levels. Due to the extreme complexity of those systems, sufficiently big shocks can put them in an irreversible unstable state. Today, we are continuously receiving signals of instability. For this reason, great efforts are being made in various human activities to guarantee a sustainable growth, balancing the social, economic, and environmental goals.

Products and services launched in the market in recent decades have a remarkably lower lifecycle environmental impact, while being technically and economically feasible. Their manufacturing is carried out following more equitable rules. The impressive recent sociological, scientific, and technological advances, allowing for better efficiencies, reduced emissions, and a deeper consideration of all the stakeholders involved, are not the only reason for this. The emergence of numerous product development standards, tools, and management systems based on the sustainability criterion has also been a key lever for this positive evolution. For instance, during the product planning stage, tools such as stakeholder analysis allow for a deeper insight into the social and economic tradeoffs the new ventures will imply. Likewise, technical resources such as restricted material databases or environmental impact quantification tools have greatly improved the speed and quality of the concept and detailed design stages. During the product launch and market stages, tools such as fair supplier certifications have allowed for a reduction in inequalities. Finally, innovative total management systems or open innovation allow for aligning all the organization resources in society-centered values and, consequently, processes. The Sustainable Development Goals stated by the United Nations create a superb framework with respect to which all the above tools are developed.

However, there are still big challenges in all the above tools and methodologies which, along with the very promising research results in different knowledge fields related to sustainability, will drive us to a much more sustainable world in the future in environmental, economic and social terms. For this reason, researchers, developers, managers, and any other actors in the sustainable product development system are invited to submit their contributions to the Special Issue “Sustainability in Product Development”. The issue will be focused, but not restricted, to subjects as:

  • New or improved product development systems and tools including sustainability considerations;
  • New or improved social, economic, and environmental impact quantification metrics;
  • New sustainable products and services in energy, building, construction and urban planning, chemistry, food, transport and logistics, industrial processes, supply networks, agriculture, healthcare, and others;
  • Education towards sustainable product development;
  • Sustainability-motivated standardization in product development.

I am sure that this Special Issue will provide the community with relevant data, insight, and views about the present sustainability issues in product design and development, so that an educated opinion can be forwarded to scholars, professionals, higher education students, and society in general.

Thank you for your contributions!

Dr. Juan Manuel Muñoz Guijosa
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainability
  • lifecycle sustainability assessment
  • impact measurement
  • sustainable product design
  • eco-design
  • recycling
  • renewable energy
  • circular economy
  • education in sustainability

Published Papers (5 papers)

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2021

Jump to: 2020

12 pages, 15301 KiB  
Article
Using Design Thinking to Improve Cook Stoves Development in Mexico
by Elena Ferriz Bosque, Luisa M. Muneta, Gregorio Romero Rey, Berta Suarez, Víctor Berrueta, Alberto Beltrán and Omar Masera
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3843; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073843 - 31 Mar 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3623 | Correction
Abstract
A traditional use of bioenergy is the main source of residential energy in developing countries, essentially using firewood to cook, boil water or heating affecting people in developing countries. Improved cook stoves are more efficient and less polluting, and there is a need [...] Read more.
A traditional use of bioenergy is the main source of residential energy in developing countries, essentially using firewood to cook, boil water or heating affecting people in developing countries. Improved cook stoves are more efficient and less polluting, and there is a need to evaluate different design options to facilitate their adoption. There are different types of very economical improved cookstoves with high combustion efficiency. In Mexico, multiple projects about cook stoves have been carried out, the root of this study being one of them: the Patsari cook stoves. The goal of this project was to modify previous stove designs to align with local people’s habits and traditions. This study shows the importance of including the participation of users in the design of the portable model of Patsari cook stoves, applying the Design Thinking methodology. Many designs or design changes have been carried out on cook stoves by different researchers, but users often do not adapt to them. This article, through a field study, shows the importance of integrating theoretical analyses along with user experiences to facilitate the adoption of improved cook stoves and ensure their success. Full article
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17 pages, 1997 KiB  
Article
Benefits of Non-Planar Printing Strategies Towards Eco-Efficient 3D Printing
by Adrián Martínez Cendrero, Gabriele Maria Fortunato, Juan Manuel Munoz-Guijosa, Carmelo De Maria and Andrés Díaz Lantada
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1599; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041599 - 03 Feb 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3084
Abstract
The present work focuses on studying and demonstrating the potential benefits of non-planar printing, as compared to conventional 3D printing, in terms of improved eco-impacts. To this end, a case study of a medical or ergonomic device, which may benefit from non-planar printing [...] Read more.
The present work focuses on studying and demonstrating the potential benefits of non-planar printing, as compared to conventional 3D printing, in terms of improved eco-impacts. To this end, a case study of a medical or ergonomic device, which may benefit from non-planar printing in different ways, is completely developed and manufactured employing alternative approaches, which are quantified, as regards production costs and environmental impacts. Three 3D printing processes are used: two of them relying on non-planar printing, one using conventional 2D printing trajectories. Relevant benefits are achieved thanks to the possibility, enabled by non-planar 3D printing, of manufacturing products upon reusable rapid tools. These support tools constitute an interesting alternative to the support meshes generally employed in additive manufacturing, which are normally a relevant source of waste and involve costly post-processes. Full article
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2020

Jump to: 2021

20 pages, 2825 KiB  
Article
Influence of the Composition on the Environmental Impact of a Casting Magnesium Alloy
by Isabel García Gutiérrez, Daniel Elduque, Carmelo Pina, Rafael Tobajas and Carlos Javierre
Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10494; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410494 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2117
Abstract
The influence of the composition of magnesium alloys on their environmental impact was analyzed. In order to perform a more accurate environmental impact calculation, life cycle assessment (LCA) with the ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint and IPCC 2013 GWP (100 y) methodology was used, taking [...] Read more.
The influence of the composition of magnesium alloys on their environmental impact was analyzed. In order to perform a more accurate environmental impact calculation, life cycle assessment (LCA) with the ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint and IPCC 2013 GWP (100 y) methodology was used, taking the EcoInvent AZ91 magnesium alloy dataset as reference. This dataset has been updated with the material composition range of several alloys included in the European standard EN 1753:2019. The balanced, maximum, and minimum environmental impact values were obtained. In general, the overall impact of the studied magnesium alloys varied from 3.046 Pt/kg to 4.853 Pt/kg and from 43.439 kg CO2 eq./kg to 55.427 kg CO2 eq./kg, depending on the composition. In the analysis of maximum and minimum environmental impacts, the alloy that had the highest uncertainty was 3.5251, with a range of ±7.20%. The element that contributed the most to increase its impact was silver. The AZ91 alloy, provided by the EcoInvent dataset, had a lower environmental impact than all the magnesium alloys studied in this work. The content of critical raw materials (CRMs) was also assessed, showing a high content in CRMs, between 89.72% and 98.22%. Full article
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15 pages, 3255 KiB  
Article
Life Cycle Assessment of a Rotationally Asymmetrical Compound Parabolic Concentrator (RACPC)
by Przemyslaw Zawadzki, Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki, Siti Hawa Abu-Bakar, Nurul Aini Bani, Abdullahi Abubakar Mas’ud, Jorge Alfredo Ardila-Rey and Abu Bakar Munir
Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4750; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114750 - 10 Jun 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2606
Abstract
Integrating a concentrator into the building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) design has resulted in a new technology known as the building integrated concentrating photovoltaic (BICPV). The rotationally asymmetrical compound parabolic concentrator (RACPC) is an example of a concentrator design that has been explored for [...] Read more.
Integrating a concentrator into the building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) design has resulted in a new technology known as the building integrated concentrating photovoltaic (BICPV). The rotationally asymmetrical compound parabolic concentrator (RACPC) is an example of a concentrator design that has been explored for use in BICPV. This paper evaluates the life cycle assessment (LCA) for the RACPC-PV module, which has never been explored before. The LCA of the RACPC-PV module has found a cost reduction of 29.09% and a reduction of 11.76% of embodied energy material manufacture when compared to a conventional solar photovoltaic (PV) module. The energy payback time for an RACPC-PV and a conventional PV was calculated to be 8.01 and 6.63 years, respectively. Moreover, the energy return on investment ratio was calculated to be 3.12 for a conventional PV and 3.77 for an RACPC-PV. Full article
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21 pages, 4229 KiB  
Article
All-Day Energy Harvesting Power System Utilizing a Thermoelectric Generator with Water-Based Heat Storage
by Yasuki Kadohiro, Shuo Cheng and Jeffrey S. Cross
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3659; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093659 - 01 May 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4356
Abstract
Solar thermal systems, especially solar hot water household heating/storage systems, are considered the most cost-effective alternatives to fossil fuel hot water heating energy systems. Recently, solar hot water systems are combined with a thermoelectric generator, forming hybrid systems. However, these hybrid systems described [...] Read more.
Solar thermal systems, especially solar hot water household heating/storage systems, are considered the most cost-effective alternatives to fossil fuel hot water heating energy systems. Recently, solar hot water systems are combined with a thermoelectric generator, forming hybrid systems. However, these hybrid systems described in the literature cannot generate electricity from sunset to sunrise, or at night, when residential consumers use the most electricity. In this paper, an all-day energy harvesting power system utilizing a thermoelectric generator with water-based heat storage is presented to generate electricity all-day and also produce warm water. The experimental and theoretical analyses were conducted to evaluate and verify the performance of the systems. In the case study, the scaled-up system shows potential to provide 198.9 L of warm water per day, 0.912 kWh of electricity in the daytime, and 0.0332 kWh of electricity at nighttime for a typical house with 6.34 m2 of available surface area in Tokyo, Japan. Although the electric power at night is low, this novel lab-scale system shows the potential to be a viable source of electricity and warm water throughout the day, without emitting any greenhouse gas. Full article
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