Improving Environmental Performance Through Product Development

Car manufacturers are working to improve environmental performance. Improvements in vehicle emissions, alternative powertrain concepts and increased recyclability are being sought. Decisions about recyclability can sometimes be at odds with other design requirements and in order to resolve these difficulties, a view of the total life of the product must be taken.

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is a technique that quantifies some aspects of environmental performance by studying a product throughout its life, from raw material through to final disposal.

Environmental needs will soon be integrated with the more familiar aims of cost, reliability, ease of manufacture, and efficiency.