Sustainable product development
Models, methodology and framework for sustainable product development.
Guidance Clarity Direction
Context
Product sustainability is often discussed in terms of materials use, recycled content, packaging, transport, and emissions during production. While single-issue aspects can carry importance, they represent only parts of the product life cycle. For true product sustainability, what matters is the net sum result.
HVAC products are developed in competitive markets, and put to use in highly variable real-world building applications. A product that cannot be produced cost-effectively, is difficult to match with building requirements, is hard to install or commission, performs poorly, is difficult to maintain, or fails to gain market acceptance, will never deliver long-term sustainability - regardless of its environmental attributes.
Sustainable HVAC product development requires balancing technical performance, environmental impact, cost, and practical usability across the entire life cycle. Oversimplified analysis and single-issue optimisation can easily lead to outcomes that are neither robust, commercially viable or sustainable in the long run. The role HVAC products play in indoor environments, energy use, and energy recovery must remain central.
What we provide
We support manufacturers creating sound strategies for sustainable product development, with clear priorities and a course forward. We supplement with frameworks, tools and methods that help ensure productive outcomes, both environmentally and commercially.
Our services include internal policy support, advisory support in early development phases, assessment of design choices and trade-offs, and evaluation of how sustainability requirements interact with energy performance, cost, manufacturability, market expectations and regulatory requirements.
We also help ensure that sustainability initiatives can be communicated in a credible manner: accurate, verifiable, and non-misleading, framed in a way that resonates with well-informed stakeholders.
Product sustainability strategy
Framework, tools and methods
Credible framing and communication
How we approach it
Our approach is grounded in engineering judgment and an understanding of how products are developed, produced, selected and integrated in HVAC systems in buildings. We place particular emphasis on energy efficiency, functionality, and maintainability as integral aspects of technical product sustainability.
A successful optimisation process requires that the application and overall purpose of the product remain in sharp focus. A sustainable product which does not excel in the market, is not a sustainable product at all.
Typical assignments
With an existing product or new product concept as a starting point, this type of work will typically include:
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Initial environmental and commercial assessment
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Setting priorities for product sustainability and cost-efficiency improvements
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Identifying and evaluating trade-offs
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Supporting design decisions in early phases and during product revisions
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Aligning sustainability strategy with market expectations and regulatory demand
If product sustainability topics are relevant for your organisation and portfolio, you are welcome to get in touch for an initial conversation.